Blair faces angry rebel MPs with an offer of terror Bill compromise

Mr Blair is expected to signal a compromise on the time limit when he tries to shore up his battered authority at a meeting of the parliamentary Labour Party tonight. Five ministers, including Patricia Hewitt, the Health Secretary, gave a public show of support for the Prime Minister yesterday over 90-day detention in an effort to break the resistance to the measure.

Ms Hewitt said it was time for the Conservatives to face up to their responsibilities. Downing Street pointed to a Sky News poll showing 72 per cent of respondents supported detention without trial for up to 90 days.

Mr Blair angered Labour rebels after telling The Sunday Telegraph that it would be a "defeat for the security of the country", if he were forced to retreat over the 90 days. "I still think there is a woeful complacency about a lot of the public debate about this," he said.

His remarks backfired with Labour rebels. "Our views have hardened, if anything. A lot of people were upset by him accusing us of 'woeful complacency'. We found that pretty offensive," said a member of the Campaign Group of Labour MPs.

David Winnick, the Labour MP, is to retable today a compromise for 28 days' detention that he withdrew last week after assurances by Charles Clarke, the Home Secretary. He said last night he had not changed his mind, after consultations over the weekend. "I remain of the view that it should be 28 days and I hope that a consensus will be reached," Mr Winnick said.

Lord Falconer of Thoroton, the Secretary of State for Constitutional Affairs, broke the tough ministerial line adopted yesterday by admitting the Government would have to compromise in order to get the terror Bill through the Commons. "If it can't get through ... there will need to be a compromise," he said on ITV's Jonathan Dimbleby programme. "Parliament decides in the end."

Frank Dobson, the former health secretary, said on GMTV that the whips had hinted at 28 days' detention being accepted by the Government. He said if the Government refused to compromise, after indicating it would do so, there would be a "collapse of trust" in the parliamentary Labour Party towards Mr Blair.

Mr Clarke will meet Labour rebels, David Davis, his Tory shadow, and Mark Oaten, the Liberal Democrat spokesman, to discuss a compromise, possibly cutting the detention period to 28 days, which he has to table by "close of play" tonight.

Sources close to Mr Davis said: "We are standing firm." Sir John Major, the former Tory prime minister, yesterday said 90 days' detention was too long.

One Clarke source said: "He believes it is desirable to achieve cross-party consensus on anti-terrorist legislation. He will be talking to the opposition parties and putting the case for 90 days." Mr Clarke's friends said there was no question of a split between the Home Secretary and the Prime Minister.

Mr Blair risks increasing pressure from rebels for retreats on changes to schools and the GP services by admitting he cannot command a parliamentary majority for one of his flagship measures. He will tell his MPs tonight that the Tories under David Cameron will steal the centre ground, if Labour MPs continue to block reforms.

Opposition to health service changes grew yesterday when a normally loyal former minister, Nick Raynsford, accused the Government on GMTV of introducing "ill thought-out" reforms for a short-term gimmick.

Mr Blair was warned by Kate Hoey, the former sports minister, on the programme not to lecture MPs tonight. In a further blow to Mr Blair, Tory and Labour MPs are tabling a Commons motion calling for a parliamentary inquiry into his conduct in the run-up to the Iraq war. It would need backing of at least 30 Labour rebels to force it through.