To Mike from Dunstable - Suspects won't be kept in prison! They have not been prosecuted, let alone even charged! They will spend those 42 days in a police cell, some even without a window according to Shami Chakrabarti's investigation.

Chris, London,

After the ruling Brogan and Other v. UK, How did the UK Government rationalize this restriction? and How will they defend this move before the European Court.

I also would like to make a small correction regarding the initial detention period in Turkey which is limited with four days.

serkan cengiz, Izmir, Turkey

How do we stop these idiots?

(late Rt Hon Ted Heath on the eve of the invasion of Iraq)

Peter, Dorchester,

Major could have added that none of these repressive measures will prevent atrocities. They never made a difference to the IRA and served only to discriminate against thousands of innocent people - what exactly is the Lab government anticipating that it's so fearful of UK citizens?

Miriam Cotton, Cork, Ireland

The Tory party was opposed to Magna Carta in 1215? the Tory party didn't EXIST until the late 17th century.
Ignorant or what....oh, I suppose they "would have" opposed it if they'd been around.

SD, London,

Here is a relevant quotation from a man who knew a thing or two about resticting freedom,

"The best way to take control over a people and control them
utterly is to take a little of their freedom at a time, to erode
rights by a thousand tiny and almost imperceptible
reductions. In this way ththe people will not see those rights
and freedoms being removed until past the point at which
these changes cannot be reversed - Adolf Hitler

G Brittain, Baku,

Well written article about a subject that fills me with fear as I see us blundering forward into a authoritarian society.

Any chance we can get Jon back into his old job ? On these stated beliefs alone, I could easily be persuaded to swing my ever more regrettable Labour voting standard.

Ben Turner, London, UK

I never thought I would find myself agreeing with a Conservative leader (ex or no), but it should be or stark warning to the Labour Party that, as a lifelong left-winger, I very much do. Thank heaven for NO2ID, the anti-id and the database state pressure group.

Stanley Duggenon, London, UK

I agree entirely.
As a free society we need to be above reproach if we wish to take the moral highground. That means sacrifices will be made occationally.
That price is not to high if we wish to remain free!
The alternatives are too hideous to contemplate.
'1984' would seem a cartoon otherwise.

Phil Austin, RAUNDS, England

I agree entirely.

Lorne, Ayr, UK

Wrong. The first of the 3 terrorism acts that now threatens our liberty is the terrorism act 2000. Passed prior to 9/11 or the london bombings.

Also, our European neighbours can detain (under civil jurisdictions - just like we do) suspects for FAR longer than a mere couple few days.

Ross Mackay, Berkshire, UK

Well said Sir John! What the government is doing with 42 day detention, ID cards, DNA databases and the like is a major scandal - and equally scandalous is the fact that there is no public uproar about it. Why doesn't the conservative party as a whole take a stand?

David, Harpenden, Herts

We all know what's happening, we're not sleeping walking into the police state, we just can't do anything to stop them. They have no mandate for all this revoking of civil liberties, but they are doing it anyway. So much for democracy! Revolution may be the only answer.

Bev, Bucks, UK

I do not particularly like the idea of 42 days detention without charge but when the next wave of terrorist bombers kill another 100 or so people on the trains and buses I think the dissenters of this plan will sing a different song.

Ken, Bedford, UK

So John Major will positively oppose any similar legislation put forward by a Conservative government? Let the Tories promise publicly not to do so and it might not look like oppurtunistic Brown bashing.

Eric skelton, Cardiff, Wales

We British deserve to lose our civil liberties. For too long we have been cosseted with too many freedom. That has made us immune and uncaring to the plight of others (eg, Palestine) who have none. The 42-day internment is the continuation of things to come, don't say I didn't warn you!

Paul Tothers, Skelmersdale,

"For goodness sake, anyone would think that every shoplifter is going to be locked up for 42 days. It would only be used in an extreme circumstance" Nick, Worcest

- You mean like the anti-terror surveilence laws that local councils are now using for anything they feel like?

Andrew, Taunton, UK

Oh yes we can't lock up terrorist suspects for too long, it might make their friends blow themselves up. No-one in this country ever linked Sept 11th to Iraq, that was the redneck segment of our trans-atlantic brethren. And how many more crimes / year are now solved due to the DNA register? A lot

Ian Hart, Oxford,

John Major's views reflect those of the 'common' man, judging by the support in these comments. How I wish that the majority of the people in this country would take trouble to read these words and understand the consequence of loss of personal freedoms. Sadly we are in the minority.

Tim Bull, Northampton, UK

14,28,42......Do I spot a pattern? I left when Mr Blair came to power and it seems now that things are spiralling down even faster.The police are now having a greater effect on law making, this of course is with no possible "elected" claim! Will the last democrat left please turn out the lights!

Colin, Cebu, Philippines

Sir John criticises the proposed Bill. As we have seen with the RIPA (Regulation of Investigatory Powers Act) there is a tendency for the extent of the powers to be widened. Terrorist law was used to prosecute a woman for reading names of the Iraq war dead; will innocent people now be held 42 days.

Ron, Cambridge,

Nick, Worcester
It would only be used in an extreme circumstance to deal with people suspected of trying to kill us all
Like the RIPA is only used for serious crime and terrorism? RIPA proves such powers will be abused. Why are you happy to have a police state. Do you think this wll make you safe

John, Reading, uk

I can't see what all the fuss is about !
42 days of Sky TV,a 5star gymnasium,playstations,breakfast in bed,no council tax to pay,drugs and prostitutes brought in for you,plus perhaps a spot of fishing in a well stocked lake ,or maybe a round of golf.Be honest our prisons are like holiday camps.

Mike, Dunstable, England

Some common sense remarks about ID cards from John Major there. Its a pity he wasn't so sensible when in power as in 1995, his Government proposed their introduction.

Jim Thompson, Dundee, Scotland

It is no surprise that Britain's most competent and thoughtful former Prime Minister is standing up for civil liberties. He is absolutely right, it is a dangerous precedent which damages our reputation to have anyone locked up for well over a month without charge. Britain must lead on democracy.

Julian White, Norwich, UK

We are "sleep-walking"into a police state -John Major is absolutley right.

Peter Gatheral, Peterborough, Cambs

John Major, arguably one Britain's most competent post-WWII PMs -- certainly the sanest -- pinpoints a crucial equation. Individual freedom in a liberal society does not come without risk. But the cost of the alternative, even a well-meaning paternalistic authoritarianism, is insupportable.

Michael, Toronto, Canada

42 days: who does this man work for?

So if we suspect Gordon of terrorizing the Uk we can have him locked up and when he gets out his reputation and life is ruined. I don't think we have to do that it looks like he's doing a good job himself.

I am willing to be blown up if it means liberty.

Scott Ballard, Ide, Devon

As Phil, Warrington says the DNA database is truly frightening! Just wait till sophisticated criminals start hacking the database and start synthesising DNA to be 'planted' on a crime scene matching someone else's "gold-standard" DNA profile (or, the less sophisticated "stealing" a few skin cells)!

ian Evans, Bedford,

I've been finding myself saying this sort of thing for years, which eventually caused me to emigrate to Canada last year. It's good to see such a piece of clear thinking by the likes of Sir John. Perhaps now we will see more of an outrage about the labour govenment's continual erosion of rights.

James Duncan, Ste. Anne des Lacs, Canada

I have more fear of the government DNA databases than I do from terrorists.

I leave my DNA in every place I visit. If a crime is committed in one of these places and one of my hairs is found on the floor, the government have a clear case to convict me or you or your granny.

Phil, Warrington, England

"This is not a United Kingdom that I recognise." I agree with this totally, as with the entire thrust of John Major's argument here. Three electoral terms of this remorseless destruction of our rights, won over centuries, often through selfless sacrifice in other's blood, caused me to emigrate.

Steve Buckel, Braunau-am-Inn, Austria

well it seems i may have misunderestimated john major after all. what an excellent piece, particularly this: "a free and open society is worth a certain amount of risk." bravo! good to hear someone positively defending our (still more or less) free and open society as being a good thing in itself

Steve, Oxford,

When the police advise him it's not needed, when he can produce no proof other than it might be needed, do you get the impression that he's been told to get this legislation through and have you asked yourself why? Or is it plain and simple that he needs a "tough result" to restore his image?

JohnM, Perth, Scotland, UK

Things change. Even if, for the sake of argument, labour knows what it is doing. And even if it's intentions are good. Once the legislation is in place it can be used or misused by anyone in the future. The fact that it is actually being considered is outrageous. Anyone of us could be a suspect.

John Morgan, Old Stratford, United Kingdom

Fantastic article, I have emailed it to my MP and would urge others to do so.I remember well fantastic parliamentary debates with opposition lead by M Howard to the 92 days detention.This new Bill is just about Lab playing cheap politics wanting to paint the Tories as 'soft' on terrorism. Oppose it!

W Jones, Carmarthen, Wales

Well done sir. It is time for good men to stand up and keep the basic rights can be so easily eroded. TTe Government already has misused anti-terrorist laws - against the arms protestors in Lodon, May Day protestors, and outside the Labour part conference. Nazi Germany started slowly. Lest we forget

Bob, London,

What a pitty this wise and very underrated man is not still in charge.When you think of the quality of government we replaced him with it makes me weep with total frustration.

EDWARD, Chelsea, UK

This is the most refreshing piece of common sense I have read on this issue for a long time. Given that there is no apparent justification for the 42 days, ID cards or the proposed DNA database, you have to wonder what lies behind these proposals. It seems to be an issue of control.

Peter, Southampton,

Thank you Mr Major - th voice of reason.

david, ely,

The tributes to Sir John Major's sensible views are well deserved, and I suspect I'm not alone in now feeling guilty at having underrated him when he was PM. The telling analogy is in the point about IRA terrorism - anyone remember Internment? Best recruiting sergeant for the IRA there ever was.

Mark Mackworth-Praed, Epsom, UK

The question is WHY 42 days? Imagine - you are innocent, the police stop you and detain you for 42 days. You lose your job. You lose your good name. You lose your house because you lost your job and no-one will re-employ - you are a 'suspect". You are Innocent. This has to stop. Now. NO.

Tim Abady, Montcuq, France

I think Sir John' sense of balance is exactly what the country needs right now. The whole direction of the government is to make everyday life for people as miserable as possible. (Fined for dropping litter, fined for putting out the wrong rubbish, teenagers demonised, camera's everywhere)

Joe, Bristol, England

"This is not a United Kingdom that I recognise." I agree with this totally, as with the entire thrust of John Major's argument here. Three electoral terms of this remorseless destruction of our rights, won over centuries, often through selfless sacrifice in other's blood, caused me to emigrate.

Steve Buckel, Braunau-am-Inn, Austria

The fact that Parliament and the people get to decide about this, without the apparent support of Police or crown prosecutor is the most important sign that our ancient rights are still working properly, it seems to me. Thus Parliament can act first when appropriate or necessary to protect citizens.

Mrs.Josephine Hyde-Hartley, Bacup, UK

We must always try to tackle the underlying causes of terrorism & radicalisation. This might be unpalatable because we are complicit in waging terror abroad eg. 'shock & awe' with our American allies, torture, killing innocent civilians, etc. Are we not also the terrorists?

ian cheese, london, uk

Great article: Don't it always seem to go that you don't know what you've got 'till it's gone?

Robin, Oxford, UK

it sure ain't an equal country when tory meps can claim whoopps i made a mistake over £400000
exsa case of leopards not changing their spots
and same old tories always cheating
makes ypou ashamerd to be british,then the tories were always good at that

mike knoth, TUNBRIDGE WELLS, england

If only we had a Prime Minister today of John Major's decency and tolerance.

To truly oppose terrorism would be to protect the laws and liberties we have in this country and have fought preserve over hundreds of years.

Labour's authoritarianism never stops - intolerance is in its character

Michael, Durham, England

Make no mistake, the real intention of the police and security services is indefinite detention without trial. Once they breach the current 28 days, in itself a period far too long, the next target will be 6 months, etc. Bring back the old 48 hours which was sensible and civilized.

Steve, Sutton,

Before we get too misty-eyed over Magna Carta and Habeus Corpus, let us remember that it is only recently that we have had universal suffrage, freedom of association, and the absence of children from our chimneys.
The Tories resisted each of these, and only started to elect their leader in 1975.

arnoldo, Coventry,

This decision is being made at the behest of the Anti Terrorist Squad, who are tasked with keeping our country safe from fanatics. If we are to trust in their judgment, then we should accept this as a requirement for saving the lives of British citizens. If we cannot accept this then disband them.

T J Harris, Brighton, UK

Fanatics are here today and will be gone tomorrow, same as any other form of terrorism. However, liberty lost today is gone forever. It is sad that the MPs today have no sense of history and are so disconnected from ordinary public. All for what? Politics and to sound tough? Sad, very sad.

Prabhat, UK,

How come other countries only need a day or two?

Remember.......this is the lot that promised a referendum on the EU then renaged on it.

They have to go...

Phil, Preston,

"A society that detains people without evidence ..."
Surely this is linked to the proposal to have free access to phone calls and emails to provide 'evidence' to hold people.
Is this a society we want for ourselves and our children.
Innocent people will be incarcerated on the flimsiest of evidence.

Guy, London,

The problem with Major's opinion is that he had an affair with Edwina Currie. It is bad enough to destroy all possibility of trust in the first place, but to do it with Edwina Currie is beyond the bounds of reality, and proves that we are living in a computer simulation for someone's amusement.

Greg Lorriman, Leatherhead, UK

To deal with the loss of civil liberties the media needs to continuously interview Conservative politicians and insist on proper answers to hard questions put to them. Honest government may ensue when the Tories attain government.

Labour politicians would obviously be unavailable for interview.

Tony Atkins, Cairns, Australia

We here what you say. We don't need it spelling out ... again and again. I'm waiting to hear just one intelligent comment on 'What to do about it!" -along with another word from the opposition 'Roll-Back' Lots of tut tuting from the opposition -but the smile of a Cheshire Cat when they inherit.

erik saxen, aalesund, norway

France is a more or less permanent socialist country, yet not a CCTV in sight, no way in the world a national ID register could be built, no fear whatsoever of terrorism (no more than of drowning in your bath) - everything Britian isn't. A word of advice. Pack up and move here. It's great!

George Lennan, La Rohelle, France

TIME FOR MASS PROTEST

We've had enough of this government throwing away our civil liberties and human rights.

So, what's a good date for mass civil liberties protests?

Even BDSMers dared to protest in public last month. If they're prepared to, why not the rest of us?

Simon, Brentwood, UK

Sir John, this is excellent article. Nu Labour has lost all direction and is heading towards a 'Pariah' & a 'Banana State'. The U.K. is introducing a precedence and Dictators like Mr. Mugabe will detain someone for 42 days for simply looking at a street map of Harare & be suspected of being a spy.

D. G. Ahmed, London, U. K.

Who's scarier?The terrorists that dont agree with our western life styles &on the odd occasion use force 2 scare us in 2 submission or the government continuously using scare-tactics 2 chip away at our freedom & pass bills which deny us the liberties our western life styles are supposed to give us!

George, Birmingham,

Andrew Stumer appears to be more concerned with John Major's syntax the the gradual erosion of civil liberties. I hope he is not representative of the British public.

Tony Atkins, Cairns, Australia

42 days detention without charge, to be used 'only where justified in extreme cases'. Remind you of anything? Like, say, being bugged and filmed by the council when filling your dustbin (a measure introduced 'to combat terrorism'). This government cannot be trusted with civil liberties. Period.

Roddy Campbell, Christchurch,

Criminals who receive a 6-month sentence for offences unrelated to violence, sex or drugs, will only serve 25% of that sentence and will also be released 18 days early due to measures to deal with prison overcrowding. This equates to 28 days. The 42-day proposal need to be seen in this context.

Chris J, Liverpool,

As an American, I can only say that Britain's descent into authoritarianism is an abject lesson to the rest of the free world. Bravo to Mr. Major for standing up and saying so. Liberty can survive anything, except cowardice--and I do not like to think Britons cowards.

Andrew Baker, Oxford, UK

I've always perceived the UK as a country of civil liberties and of people who do not easy let to be deprived of their freedom. Now, on the terrorist pretext you willing to give up your liberites? Because of few terrorists you're going to controll all the rest.That is stupid.I can't understand this!

Adam, Lodz, Poland

"If you would give up a little liberty, to gain a little freedom, you deserve neither and will lose both" - jefferson

Enough said

Mike, Paris,

Nick, we are all at risk, that's true. But from increasing intrusion on our lives by politicians and NOT from terrorism. If the supposed "War on Terror" is being fought to protect our democratic way of life, why are so many of our ancient rights and liberties being dismantled?

Joe, Stourbridge, UK

Yes Mr Major, and the other main threat to our liberties comes from the EU.
I bet you wish you hadn't been so keen to ram that Maastricht Treaty through Parliament on a three line whip back in 1993.

David Moon, Seaford, East Sussex

So far under current Anti-terror Legislation people have been arrested for wearing a T-shirt with a logo; reading the names of the fallen of the Iraq/Afghan war in Whitehall; heckling Jack Straw at the Labour party conference (this last being a Labour Party Member; spying on parents.

Frank Spence, Maidstone, England

This was first asked of Plato's Socrates in The Republic. The question is put to Socrates, "who will protect us against the protectors?" Benjamin Franklin took it up later: "Any society that would give up a little liberty to gain a little security will deserve neither and lose both."

Matt, St Albans,

Well Said Major

Patrick, Dublin, Ireland

Major for President.

Stephen P. Foley, New York, New York, United States

I agree entirely Sir John. Yet this nagging feeling persists - had a Conservative government been in power this last decade, they would have done things no differently, indeed they may even have sought to introduce even tougher measures. Are Sir John's views not the benefit of being in opposition?

Steve, Cardiff, UK

Nick - "It would only be used in an extreme circumstance to deal with people suspected of trying to kill us all"

A little naive perhaps? You would be perfectly happy to seed civil liberties everytime there is a perceived threat to the UK? That, my friend, is a recipie for an authoritarian state.

Tom, Liverpool, UK

I may have not agreed with nor voted for Mr Major when he was Pm, but i am honestly and truely glad someone has finally had the gumption to stand up and say what everyone else is thinking .

Well done Sir John and thank you for bringing some honesty back into politics

Keith , Hull, UK

"In a Parliament with a more balanced representation, the undermining of personal privacy, lengthy detention before charge, identity cards and a DNA register would have never been passed."

Mr. Major is quite right. If his (or this) government had introduced PR, then this would not be happening now.

Glen Kristensen, london,

with councils allowed to use ripa laws how long will it be before they haul somebody in for 42 days for putting the dustbin out on the wrong day.and if councils can abuse the law then so can the government.stalin would have been proud of the way this once free country has turned out.

brian rice, halifax, england

SInce the introduction of 28 days, how many times have those held been taken to court and convicted? But more interesting would be how many times did the police say 'if only I had some more time I could have prevented such and such an attack. I didn't see any reported!!!

John, Paris, France

This government clearly thought George Orwell's 1984 was an instruction manual rather than a warning of what might happen

Patrick, Cambridge,

Civil liberties were suspended in World War Two and then reinstated after the war. I can't see why Parliament couldn't vote out the 42 days later when they are no longer needed. And in a population of 60 million are people really worried they'll be mistakenly locked up as terrorist suspects!?

M Graham, Auckland, NZ

Don't forget: it is members of this self-same government who parrot the "nothing to hide, nothing to fear" mantra who are most reluctant that their expenses are revealed to public scrutiny.

cadzow, Greater London, UK

“In order to rally people, governments need enemies. They want us to be afraid, to hate, so we will rally behind them. And if they do not have a real enemy, they will invent one in order to mobilise us.”
Patrick Henry (American revolutionary)

John, Weymouth, Dorset

Doug Bates: comparing road traffic accidents with terrorism is mis-leading. The point of terrorism is to instill fear in the population. 52 dead on 7/7 = millions in fear and country on high alert.

Could you build a solid case against a clever, covert terrorist in just 4 weeks? No I thought not..

Andrew S, Haslemere, Surrey, UK

Like several million viewers, it appears Sir John watched Question Time too.

Robert Golin, Chorleywood , UK

Philp C, Wallingford, asks when will we rise up? Our problem is we are novices. The French, the Germans (Gorleben) and other nations take protest seriously, but we British seem too tolerant, not to say apathetic. If we did rise up, it would only be for a few faltering steps then we'd sit down again.

Mike Mitchell, Spalding, England

Can I add my support to the consensus in the comments:

- 42 days is, as Sir John argues, an obscenity; and
- for all his faults, Sir John was a much better Prime Minister than the current incumbent.

PJ, London,

Socialism cannot exist without monitoring of the population to control it.

One Nation Under CCTV - and locked up for 42 days without charge for being a "wrecker"

W Smith, Manchester,

this piece is highly informative, and i must put my hats off to Sir John for providing us this snippet, but he must " it is easier said than done"---Brown is right in taking any necessary action even if it would be disaster if people are detained without any valid reason.

Nasih Ul Wadud Alam(Paolo), Dhaka, Bangladesh

Not a word on giving Robert Mugabe a Knighthood in 1993 Sir John!!.

Kenneth O'Boyle, Perth, UK

Nick worcester
you have hit the nail on the head !
that is exactly what willhappen !
the law will be used against everyone
Remember the council spies on school admission policies, dustbins etc
once a law is in place it will be abused by uninteneded authorities !
Paul Worcester

Paul Greenwood, Worcester,

Very, very well said. Sanity and reason at last.

Alta Blue, London, UK

Bring Major back!!

Chris Walker, London, UK

Spot on but don't Labour MPS realise the truth of what Sir John writes? They will vote for the government for they have now too much to lose. In the good old days when we had representatives committed to the public service ethic, before they became well-paid pawns of the whips, it was different.

Geoff Naylor, Winchester, England, UK

Special mesures are not the way to deal with terrorist All you are doing is feeding there own sense of importance. Treat these people as they deserved to be treated as no more than common criminals not special, not different just murderers

Joe, Ipswich,

Last Christmas 10s of people were arrested In Belgium for assumed terrorist plans. They were released after 1 day, the police had just paniced. In Brown's U.K., they would be jailed for 42 days, enough time to fabricate evidence and avoid loosing face.

Dirk Bosmans, Kruibeke, Belgium

Nick.

"We are all at risk".

Prove it.

Abd by the way,if this is passed, the people retained will be those AGAINST WHOM NO FIRM EVIDENCE IS FOUND WITHIN 28 (and that's a long time) DAYS. Could well be a shoplifter caught in the wrong place at the wrong time, when you think about it.

jessica, wrexham,

Sir John Major is a decent man and my thanks for his views on this subject.

The Labour Party is currently betraying every point of principle it ever held. It should be defending these ancient liberties not abolishing them.

Mike S, London,

"It would only be used in an extreme circumstance to deal with people suspected of trying to kill us all"

Just like the anti terror messures were, people being arrested on cycle paths, no right to protest near parliament. The problem will be scope creep and definition of terrorism.

Jonathan Freeman, Winchester,

Interesting and totally correct in my view Mr Major. However, I've yet to hear that a Conservative government would repeal these laws. It's more likely that when in power, they'll see them as "useful". Civil Liberties are bought with blood.

Dr Robert Laundon, London, UK

The most tragic thing is;
the world used to look up to the british. You gave us Smith, Mill, Burke, Magna Carta and Habeas Corpus.
It was you who showed us what freedom and democracy was. And now,thanks to Labour,you trow it al away.
How can the nation who stood firm against the Blitz, do this?

William, Oslo, Norway

Nick, no one is "trying to kill us all". Nearly 7 years ago, a handful of fanatics killed nearly 3000 people in the USA; nearly 3 years ago, another handful killed 52 people in London. Worldwide, over 3000 people die in road accidents every DAY. And over 1 million Iraqis have died due to our war.

Tom Welsh, Basingstoke,

We should monitor and bug all MPs first - 'just in case' they are kidnapped or attacked by Islamists. Surely the murder or kidnap of just one MP would have a far more destabilising effect than the loss of members of the public?
If they haven't got anything to hide they won't have anything to fear.

Barry Tozer, Poole, UK

For those who can't see the harm in a 42 day detention period ask yourselves this. Why not 60 days or 90? Before you know it 42 days will be the norm then where?

We are giving away freedoms that took centuries to establish. The road to a total authoritarianism is paved with very tiny compromise

Chris Kirk, Loughborough, UK

I too always felt that John Major is a decent man. I too find myself in agreement with him. "When the poeple fear their government, that is tyranny, when a government gears its people, that is freedom." - Jefferson.

Adrian Ryan, Donegal, Ireland

Its a sad indictment on the current state of politics in this country the last decade that morons like Blair (previously) and Brown are able to ride ruffshot over such ancient and fundamental rights as these you describe.

If only the opposition in parliament wasnt so usless during this time.

the tundoir, Liverpool, England!

We are witnessing the destruction of our freedom.

George Washington declared that -

"Government is not reason, it is not eloquence, it is force; like fire, a troublesome servant and a fearful master. Never for a moment should it be left to irresponsible action."

General Election - NOW.

R Bingham, Lauzun, France

More people die on the roads than in terrorist attacks - maybe we shouldl we arrest all drivers as a "preventative" cure....the motion is bogus, yes terrorism has become more sophisticated, but so have the tools we have to capture them.

Doug Bates, St. Albans,

History is full of fights for rights and civil liberties. And the majority breathe a sigh of relief when legislation is passed to REMOVE bad laws that adversely affect our human rights. It is indeed repugnant that a government would want to INTRODUCE laws that future generations will indeed condemn!

Jimmy C, Letchworth Garden City, UK

It is ridiculous to argue that the law should not evolve to meet new challenges, otherwise people would still be hanged for stealing a sheep. The law is there to protect the public, not be preserved in aspic. Terrorist recruitment will be deterred by tough laws, but encouraged by appeasement.

Bob, London,

A government by the people should keep citizens well informed on a open, genuine and earnest basis--that is, an Act before put into effect, should be drawn from people's needs and well debated by representative of all related. Any collective decision needs people's undestanding and support.

odysseus, ithaca, us

Well said ! Could not have put it better myself ..
And Nick in Worcester we are not at risk - more people die from car accidents every year than have died in 20 years of terrorist bombings ..

Tony, Cardiff,

Why do people keep defending the governments actions? Understanding and sympathising? Complex dilemmas?

NO. The government has INTENTIONALLY been removing our civili liberties. The population of this country is naive and apathetic and this ridiculous 'War on Terror' is a joke.

Mark, Purley, UK

I fervently wish that the members of my own government were as devoted to the liberties and principles as former PM Major appears to be. His grasp of the internal threat to us all because of terrorism is terrifying in its correctness.

K. E. Shultz, Springfield, Ohio, United States

For all his faults I alwys rated honest John as a PM. A genuinely decent man, completely wrong on Europe but there you are, no one's perfect. A voice of reason in these irrational times. Good on you John. One of the last great Englishmen in politics.

Terry Candy, Croydon, England

Well done Sir John for speaking up on this issue. Creating civil liberties took a lot out of our forefathers. We shouldn't throw them away so carelessly

John Begoode, Welwyn Garden City, UK

Well said & spot on. It's a pity those of us who agree with these sentiments don't seem to have anyone standing up for our point of view in Parliament. Most seem only too happy to sleepwalk into an authoritarian state. Well they deserve what they get - the only problem is we have to suffer it too.

John, York,

For goodness sake, anyone would think that every shoplifter is going to be locked up for 42 days. It would only be used in an extreme circumstance to deal with people suspected of trying to kill us all. Its all very well harking back to 1215 but its now 2008 and we are all at risk.

Nick, Worcester,

"Not ending a sentence [or an editorial] with a preposition is a bit of arrant pedantry up with which I will not put. " Sir Winston Churchill

"It is a road down which we should not go."

Sir John Major adds a new chapter to the great syntactical tradition of British Prime Ministers.

Andrew Stumer, Oxford,

Is it too late to have John Major back as PM?

Where is this sense in Parliament nowadays?

J. Wilkes, Gloucester,

Extension of detention without charge to 42 days represents a sinister creep towards complete state control of the individual.

With laws like this we might as well hand over the keys of the house of commons to Al-Qaeda.

What is this government thinking?

Jez, Ringwood, Hampshire

Will a future conservative government repeal these insidious invasions into our privacy and ancient rights?
Somehow I don't think so, if there was any chance of this Mr Cameron would have trumpeted it from the Rooftop of Parliament.
We have become well fed slaves!

Howard, Basildon, England

Thank you, Sir John, for these wise words. To vitiate our liberty and self respect is to yield to the objectives of the threat. To debase them for any other reason amounts to unadulterated authoritarianism. Obviously neither is acceptable and I abhor these manipulative attempts to cozen us.

Mike L, Chippenham, Wilts

Well said Mr Major - not only is all this totally unjust and unwarranted, it is also not cricket.

Wellington, I think, said 'An Englishman only acts when it is almost too late.'

It is almost too late now so when will we rise up?

Philip C, Wallingford, Oxon

"But the case for war was embellished by linking the Iraqi regime to the 9/11 attacks on New York - for which there is not one shred of evidence."

Sir, I'm truely impressed with your honesty. I may not have agreed with some of your policies when you were prime minister, but today, I agree above.

jayil, london, uk

Hear, hear sir. Well said. Say it louder. The actions, real and intended of Brown are malign and harmful to Britain, and the British.

David, Oxford,

I do believe that the Police should have this detention law passed. They should use the politicians as guinny pigs. All those that abuse their position, all those that have betrayed the people of this country and all those that are not fully commited to the welfare and benifit of the people.

Mike Williams, Southampton, Hampshire

All terrorists try to manoeuvre liberal societies into taking illiberal steps for the sake of "security". It is simply amazing that Gordon Brown is so eager to hand a propaganda victory to terrorists in this way. A society that detains people without evidence has very little worth defending.

jon livesey, Sunnyvale, CA/USA

You have (and had) my vote!

A key question that supporters of 42-days should ask themselves is, "If I were somehow wrongly suspected of being involved in a terrorist plot, how would I feel about being locked up for 42 days without charge?" Kafka would have known the answer!

ian Evans, Bedford,