‘If there’s a vote of no confidence on 42 days, we’ll win’

In her only print interview, Jacqui Smith tells Matthew d’Ancona that her proposal for the detention of terror suspects does not undermine Magna Carta, that she is ‘frustrated’ by Lord Goldsmith, and that the ‘West Midlands housewife’ is a better judge of the threat than MPs

In a government stuffed with malfunctioning robots, nervous wrecks and preening Fauntleroys, Jacqui Smith shows every sign of being a fully paid-up member of the human race. Which, as it happens, is the first lucky break Gordon Brown has had in months.

It is a slight exaggeration to say that the Home Secretary holds her boss’s future in her hands — but only slight. Next week, the Commons will vote on extending the limit for detaining terror suspects to 42 days and — whatever he says to the contrary — the Prime Minister’s position will be deeply and instantly precarious if he loses. Victory is by no means in the bag. All things considered, Ms Smith, her blue eyes sparkling merrily, is looking very chipper.

‘Oh, thank you,’ says the 45-year-old MP for Redditch. ‘Well, for any elected politician, as I said on my first day, to be given the job of protecting the British people, our borders, our communities, that’s a pretty good job, it’s a great honour.’ No doubt, but the stakes are now vertiginously high, aren’t they? I mean, what- ever Gordon thinks, his premiership could simply collapse in the event of a serious defeat?

‘I don’t think the government could fall over this,’ she says, carefully. ‘I think if it was turned into a vote of confidence there would be massive support of the government, I don’t think it would be a problem.’ But it could be, Home Secretary. ‘I think we’re going to win [the 42 days vote]’. But what if you don’t? ‘Well I don’t think it would… well, I don’t know, it is up to the opposition to call a vote of no confidence, but it seems to me that they would be a bit silly to do that.