Yet another blatant attempt by our totalitarian government to stifle criticism. Politicians manipulating courts of law - this is not the England that I fought for.

Sean, Coventry, UK

We need an election now to get rid of these incompetent scoundrels who stoop to new depths on a daily basis.

John, Manchester, UK

Democracy gone through the window again

Geoffrey Fish, Pontefract, West Yorkshire

I think given Brown's dismal poll ratings and now this, the Labour Party needs a new leader. Cherie Blair perhaps?

Natasha King, London,

What a nasty bunch this Labour government is.

Phil, Preston,

Did he get the censorship idea from Beijing?
When will the thought Police be given extra powers?
When will this Caledonian weighted cabinet support legislation to prevent English being spoken in the Palace of Westminster?

Rule Britannia? I wish someone competent would!

Iain, Buxton, Derbyshire

To which gulag will a disobedient coroner be sent?

Tricia, Sussex, uk

Also if he gave the men and women the equipment they needed in the first place there would be less need for these coroner reviews? Doesn't he understand that?

Natasha King, London,

Free Speech RIP

Disgruntled Dorothy, Glasgow, Scotland

Well, the article says it all about our govenment's attitude to our servicemen. Nice One Des !!!

Kieran, Herts, UK

Surely a law needs to be passed to allow the detention of anyone who criticises the current regime?

Come on Gordon, give the people what they want. Call a general election, and see if you have a mandate any longer.

WS, Manchester,

Yet another example of everyone in theis pusillanimous government attempting to evade all responsibilty or accountability for what happens on their watch or under their instructions. Typical.

Pete, Oxford, UK

"If you've nothing to hide... etc.", eh Des?

Robert, Hull, East Yorkshire

1984 really has arrived, hasn't it?

A Perrott, London, UK

The Soviets would be proud of Gordon Brown and co !!!!

Ian Payne, WALSALL,

Good grief - how can it possibly be right to criticise our government ?

I'm sure that Browne thinks its a better use of his time to go to court to silence coroners rather than sort out the equipment shortages of the Armed Forces and its not for any of us to get above our station and question that.

Come on, what else did you expect from a part time Defense Secretary ?

Tony , Cardiff,

Another nail in the coffin. Free speech, openness, transparency and accountability are things of the past for our elected leaders.

Hamad Lone, London, England

As a time expired infantryman - I sometime, ponder over what has been, I am not ashamed to say with the advancing years tears form in my eyes as I think of those lads I knew who marched off into regimental history, two families grieving, mother - and regimental family. I cannot begin to imagine what Mrs Smith feels, her son went off to war like all of us apprehensive but trusting in the organisation. Trust is beyond value in the services, this has been undermined with cuts, inept management from the MoD and government. The army is losing senior NCOs, Warrant Officers and Commisioned ranks (company commander level) at alarming rates. Some might suggest that it is a result of active service, too much active service possibly, manpower is short. Performance in any military unit slumps when moral is not on line, sickness rates climb, and soldiers of all ranks see the grass growing greener elswhere. But a lawyer might suggest that none of this is a "serious failing"!

Wills, Soton, UK

What was that about Beijing silencing dissent in Tibet?

David Masu, Zürich,

It is understandable that Mr Browne might find it necessary to cover for his fellow civilians in MoD. Gagging a coroner will simply be one palliative for incompetence and non-accountability.

David, Holzhausen an der Haide, Germany

It says a lot about this vile government of ours that they would rather spend money on lawyers to stop criticism of themselves, than spend money on basic equipment to keep our troops alive.

Simon, The Hague,

Can someone explain to me why soldiers inquests are now conducted by the Wiltshire coroner? Was this a deliberate move by the MOD to avoid criticism from Mr Walker?
Is the Wiltshire coroner seen as more sympathetic to the Govt?
Is there a knighthood in the offing for the Wiltshire coroner?
I think the MOD has some explaining to do.

Allan Moyes, Andover , UK

How dare these naysayers question the Divine Right of Prime Ministers to quash heretical speech of those who hold the political patronage jobs created by Alfred the Great!

Oh, there will be some who will whinge about "censorship" of views disagreeable to the Great Pretender Gordon and Prince Desmond. But they are Scots, and the Scots have always stubbornly refused to have such an office.

Such an action will be applauded by those who stand firmly behind the Government's decision to remove teaching of the Magna Carta from the schools' curriculum. Such an ancient document would only confuse the peasantry.

People must realize that some actions are necessary to perpetuate the Thousand Year New Labour!

Robert Bruce Evans, Anaheim, California

Under Rule 32 a coroner MAY express an opinion as to how, when and where a deceased came by his/her death. Rule 42 merely prevents the coroner from "appearing to determine" criminal or civil liability.

Guy Shirra, Sai Kung, Hong Kong