Catch 42

Both the BBC and the Telegraph have stories on the 42 day detention issue that report that ministers "sense" that they are heading for victory on next week's vote. It is a bit alarming that they use the same word but in any case, both are pure spin, asserting that someone holds a belief that they cannot objectively test. It may be true that the vote is moving the government's way but it is also obvious that ministers would say that, wouldn't they?

Meanwhile, the Times says that Gordon Brown is backing away from a threat to resign if he loses (I must have missed that) but at least puts the 42 day issue objectively:

Ms [Jacqui] Smith said after the meeting that she had detected clear movement among MPs towards accepting the proposals.