Alan Keen has branded opposition arguments 'daft' after voting to extend the limit on detaining terror suspects to 42 days.
The Feltham & Heston MP and his wife, Brentford & Isleworth MP Ann Keen, both backed the controversial move which scraped home by just nine votes.
"There's no more important human right than the right to life," Mr Keen told the Chronicle.
"There's been a lot of daft talk about how there's no evidence the extension's needed, but we've had several police enquiries lasting more than 20 days and one going to 27 days.
"The threat to public safety is unbelievable and there's no use acting after the horse has bolted."
Labour rebels had threatened to force an embarassing defeat for Prime Minister Gordon Brown on the issue.
