THERESA May was last night forced to deny that the UK Government had potentially jeopardised the deportation of terror suspect Abu Qatada.
The Home Secretary was accused of blundering by arresting the radical cleric when he still had 24 hours to appeal a ruling he could be removed to Jordan.
She was plunged into a row over what constituted three months as she insisted that her department had not got its dates wrong.
However, she appeared to be contradicted by the European Court of Human Rights which indicated it had accepted the appeal.
Mrs May tried to bat off criticism, accusing Qatada of a "delaying tactic".
But Labour demanded she be dragged back to the Commons to be grilled by MPs. Shadow Home Secretary Yvette Cooper added: "The Home Office are saying one thing, the European Court another – why didn't they just agree the deadline in advance so there could be no opportunity for Abu Qatada or his lawyers to exploit?"
Qatada was arrested ahead of a planned deportation amid dramatic scenes on Tuesday. His detention came as Mrs May announced she had secured a deal with Jordan that he would not be tortured of he was returned to the country.
At the time, the Home Office said the deadline for any appeal had expired at midnight on Monday.
But his legal team dispute this and lodged an appeal with Europe's human rights judges late on Tuesday.
This effectively blocks the UK Government's attempts to deport him, and could even pave the way for him to be released on bail.
Mrs May said: "As you would expect, we have been in touch with the European court over the last three months to check our understanding.
"They were absolutely clear that we were operating on the basis that it was midnight on April 16."
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