[JURIST] The UK Terrorism Bill [text; JURIST news archive] is set to become law after the House of Lords Wednesday backed down on its objection to a controversial provision criminalizing the "glorification" of terrorism. The legislation, introduced in the wake of the July 7 London bombings [JURIST news archive], had gone back and forth between the two chambers six times, with the Lords insisting on two previous occasions - the last [JURIST report] in late February - that the glorification offense was too vague and threatened too much of an infringement on free expression. This time, however, the Lords voted 172-60 to reject a Liberal Democrat amendment that would have struck the term from the House of Commons text yet again.

Home Secretary Charles Clarke has committed to reconsidering the terrorism measures [JURIST report] next year, although it is not entirely clear whether the government sees such consideration as a potential opportunity to decrease or increase the severity of the law. The current legislation also includes a provision for up to 28 days detention without trial for terrorism suspects, the longest allowed in all western European countries. The Telegraph has more. BBC News provides additional coverage.