Britain's Home Secretary stated that only a small number of organizations consulted on the government's proposal to detain terrorism suspects for up to 42 days without charge actually support it. Jacqui Smith defended the plan to increase detainment time from 28 days during a parliamentary committee meeting. Out of 71 organizations consulted, only six expressed clear support for the proposal. However, Director of Public Prosecutions Ken Macdonald and former Attorney General Lord Goldsmith have both argued against the need for any changes. Despite needing Macdonald's support, Smith admitted that she had not met with him to discuss the proposal. Media reports over the weekend claimed that Jonathan Evans, the head of MI5, privately informed MPs that he did not support the new laws. On the other hand, senior police officers, such as London Commissioner Ian Blair, have expressed their support for the extension. Home Secretary Jacqui Smith argued that the proposed laws were necessary to allow the police more time to question suspects in complex terrorism cases. She assured that there would be safeguards in place, and any extension of time would require approval from both parliament and a judge. When questioned by members from both the opposition and government, Smith denied that the 42-day limit was politically motivated, stating that it was intended to ensure successful prosecutions. During a hearing, she mentioned that there is a possibility in the future of someone being released before evidence is fully developed due to the limited 28-day period. Despite initially agreeing with critics about not extending the time, she changed her stance due to ongoing terrorism threats. Smith acknowledged the potential risks of holding individuals longer than 28 days, stating that if proven wrong, the pre-trial extension would not be implemented. The announcement of the plans last week was met with criticism from opposition parties, human rights groups, and some Muslim organizations. The significant level of opposition, including from government MPs, suggests that Smith and Prime Minister Gordon Brown will face challenges in passing the laws through parliament. This situation would reflect the difficulties faced by former Prime Minister Tony Blair, who experienced his initial defeat in the House of Commons in 2005 while attempting to extend detention time to 90 days.