I have yet to hear a politician explain how ID cards would prevent terrorism. Terrorists might be uk citizens, in which case they will have cards. They might be foreign nationals, in which case they will have valid passports. How then will cards help to prevent an attack? I feel that Blunkett is the biggest threat to Britain, not terrorism. John Madden, Leicester

I believe that this government is creating a climate of fear with a makebelieve enemy. We lived with terrorism for the last 30 years, why the sudden change? I simply don't believe that a global terrorist network exists. I just believe that it's governments and their security services trying to justify their existence and to force through even more draconian measures against their own peoples. John Wren, Plymouth

Fear sells. If you tell enough people they have to be scared they'll sign up for anything. It's what happened in the US and unless people take a reality check and look at the facts it'll happen here too. Tim Richards, Whaley Bridge

It is despicable to even think that the introduction of new bills to counter terrorism is described by some people as the government creating a "climate of fear". I think the Government is absolutely doing the right thing to protect us, and, in fact I think it should have been done a long time ago. In this age of global terrorism, Western governments needs to be proactive and the Labour Government must do everything possible to prevent a 9/11 in London or Manchester. Aranya Syed, London

Undoubtedly they are right. No attempts have been made to set out reasons justifying these measures. We are told to take it as read that there are real threats which require such responese. On the surface, it seens to be the Government's attempt to repeat Bush's strategy to win the election by scaremongering and then claiming only they can adequately defend our preciousliberties while they gradually erode the same liberties. Police state here we come - 2008 seeme to be Blunket's target date. Let's hope the British people are not fooled as the Americans (or a narrow majority of them) were. Peter Norris, Oxford

Tony Blair's comments re the threat from terrorism sounds remarkably similar to his previous speeches about Saddam Hussein and his weapons of mass destruction. Why should we believe him this time? Joe McIver, Belfast

I agree with John Wren of Plymouth. Both the US and the UK governments are creating a climate of fear against an enemy of their own invention. Already the US has instituted laws that border on a police state and now the UK is following suit. It is ludicrous to think that these terrorists are any different than the PLO, the Bader-Meihnhof gang and all the others over the years. Indeed, by invading Iraq and polarising the extremists we have exacerbated the situation not ameliorated it. It seems to me that as far as the "Special Relationship" that exists between the US and the UK, it might well be defined as Washington saying: "Jump!" and Blair saying: "How high?" Adrian Ryan, Enghien, Belgium

In the current climate of the world, it is instrinsic that the government takes these steps to try and prevent and disuade a terrorist attack. Fear, at the moment, cannot realistically be escaped but we can be reassured that the Government is taking measures that make national and personal safety paramount. I would also take this opportunity to point out that ID cards are not merely to protect us from terrorism but to help prevent fraud and the "stolen identity" black market which is currently worth £1.3 billion. If we won't help ourselves, who will? Lucy Pegler, Malmesbury

The Government is stoking public concern to gain acceptance for a controlling agenda and to outflank the Tories. Peter Hain has already claimed that the country is safer with Labour, expect more of this before the general election. As for the real threat (and I think there is one), we must hope the Police and the intelligence services keep on top of it, stretched as they will be by the new crimes created by these dismal measures. Trevor Mason, Hassocks

I really do not see how ID cards are going to protect us from terrorism. Surely it would be the large amounts of explosives or nerve gas that the police would pick up on not the lack of an ID card. This bill is about an overpowerful government seeking to extend its control. If only there was an electable alternative to Tony and Co we might be able to end this ridiculous fear fuelled farce and get back to concentrating on the issues which will really matter to people. Anna McCreadie

The Labour party will deny creating a climate of fear but the evidence is clearly against them. The content of the Queen’s speech, recent comment by senior party members such as David Blunkett and Peter Hain and even the Prime Minister, show without any doubt the strategy they will pursue up to the next election. Sadly, in order to win the next election and then further consolidate their hold on power, minor concerns such as individual freedom and civil liberties are to be trampled underfoot. So, welcome to compulsory ID cards, extending of detention without trial for those who have not committed any offence and other legislation that will, in reality, be open to abuse by the unscrupulous and the powerful and be used to victimise minority groups and the weakest members of our society. However, we should remember that freedom, once lost, will be hard to regain and we may look back on these few years as a period when the state took over total control of its citizens. Robert Griffith, Oswestry

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