The Home Secretary today backed down from a controversial bid to reverse an October 2013 High Court ruling that terror suspects detained at ports and airports should, like other detainees, be entitled to the 'fundamental protection' of face-to-face advice from a solicitor.

Theresa May and the Metropolitan Police were seeking an expedited appeal against the ruling. The hearing was set down in the Court of Appeal for today and tomorrow (20-21 February 2014), but both appellants withdrew shortly before it began.