Jacqui "I'm not out of touch" Smith should realise that the only public outcry is over this ridiculous and un-necessary attempt to increase pre-charge detention which is already by a long way the longest in the OECD. Labour MPs in marginal constituencies are probably toast anyway but this suppression of our Civil Liberties will probably cost another 20-30 seats. And did these people really come into politics to vote for this kind of un-necessary authoritarian measure?

NBeale, London, England

What planet has this woman come from certainly not earth.
We all know she wants 42 days to score a political point in a future pmq's by saying "we proposed tougher legislation but the opposition parties did not therefore we are the better Party" What a complete and utter waste of Parliament's time on an issue that far from risking a public backlash will be lucky to stifle a yawn from the average man in the street.

philip, Ipswich,

I would like to hold Jacqui Smith for 42 days without charge. Im sure she would love that. Although we need new powers to deal with terrorism if there is enough evidence to hold them for a 42 day period surely there is enough evidence to charge them.

Tracy, Portsmouth,

I would not believe a word the Home Secretary says. She is as clueless as the rest, with regard to the public mood.

Mark, Yorkshire,

Not this voter. I would rather see a government that can actually put the hard work in to catching terrorists by following the rule of law rather than one that takes the easy option and randomly arrests people whilst providing no evidence and without even telling the person what they are alleged to have done. This measure is one reason I wil not be voting Labour at the next election.

Hitler would have been proud of Ms Smith.

Mark, Edinburgh, UK

2 words, Human Rights.

Yet another piece of our civil liberties being erroded for the ridiculously termed "war on terror"

Why do we have to have the longest period of detention of any "civillised" country.

The police and governing forces are world reknowned for their many glaring cock-ups, how would you feel if your relative were incarcerated for 42 days without charge then released because the forces got it wrong.

Labour are totally out of contact with what the voter thinks and believes.

jono, canaries, spain

Her views (Jacqui Smith) are quite different from everyone I know. We're more worried about a police state, where you can 'disappear' for very little reason (they cant tell you 'why' you're being detained, thats secret). Which, from what she says, is actually the exact opposite from what she thinks we want. Bizaar how the government can get it so wrong.

Arthur, Newcastle,