London  - British Prime Minister Gordon Brown Monday gave his strong personal backing to controversial new anti-terror laws that could provoke a significant rebellion from members of his ruling Labour Party in parliament.

Writing in the Times newspaper Monday, Brown said that he would not back down over plans to detain terrorist suspects for up to 42 days without charge, due to be debated in parliament next week.

It has been reported that up to 50 Labour members of parliament (MPs) could be ready to vote against the plan to raise the limit from currently 28 days.

"I will stick to the principles I have set out and do the right thing," he said.

In 2005, Brown's predecessor, Tony Blair, suffered his first major parliamentary defeat trying to extend the detention-without-charge period to 90 days in 2005 - which was eventually reduced to 28 days.

The new plans have been criticized by human rights groups in Britain and at European Union (EU) level. (dpa)