Brown used terrorist laws against Iceland.

Who knows what he will use them for next.

Our country becomes more Stalinist by the day.

Dave Smith, Geneva, CH

The Upper House has again reminded the world what makes British democracy superior. With a government flush with power, the Lords stepped in wisely and rationally to deny the 42-day detention rule. They also reminded us that unfettered power residing in the government usually harms us all.

Samir Kaiser, Cambridge,, England

This vote is precisely why the House of Lords should be scrapped. A bunch of unelected
pensioners, some clearly senile, living in a bygone age and completely incapable of grasping new realities. Undemocratic, arrogant, and outdated. Bin the lot of them.

Simon , London, UK

NuLab was always more about (minority) rights than (majority) liberties. Maybe this is the first step on the long road back.

Dave, Slough,

The impingement of even one persons rights does ultimately have disastrous impact on the rights of all persons. The brighter path of equal justice for all of God's creation has the proof of time and experience, and concerns the building of civilization.
Justice not blind, is justice for none...

Byron Flattery, Breckonridge Quay, U.K.

Mr. Brown and his pack has been humiliating the British nation for far to long. I cross my fingers he will have it on his own skin soon.

S af Ugglas, NYHAMNSLÄGE, Sweden

Thank god for the Lords, bowdlerized or not. They are a vital check on the excesses of government, especially this bunch of bullying thugs.

Billy Barnett, HK,

A victory for common sense, decency and good law.

42 days detention without charge would have put us in the same cesspit as Mugabe, Saddam Hussein and those that think Guantanamo is acceptable in a civilised society.

I also think its a very good augument for the House of Lords, who have done a very good job of keeping government in its place.

Peter Lovatt, Birmingham, UK

Every time I wonder at the complexities of the English form of Government, your wise and civil ligislators exhibit the brilliance of mind and simple precision of purpose that now excape our legislatures. There is much to be envied and admired in the simple logic applied to your deliberations.

Peter Altmeyer, Palm Harbor, FL, USA

Nick: the police support means nothing to me, i was once stripped searched under terrorism powers, ok they didn't detain me for 42 days but that shows how the police like having the power at their finger tips even if they don't need it, like there was no need to stop and search me under that law

reki, london, uk

With modern technologies such as the internet and international criminal databases, if the police conducted investigations as thorough and quickly as they are capable of and expected to do so, rather than a sub-division of the 'Keystone Cops' , then the current 28 days should be more than adequate.

Jason, Huddersfield, United Kingdom

Indeed, John of Brum, should it ever come to popular dissent on the scale seen in eastern Europe, we should all be aware exactly the fate that awaits us should the government of the day wish to crush all opposition.

John Walter, bonn, germany

Look at what happened to poor Gary McKinnon? The rushed one-sided extradition law was not designed for someone like him - a vulnerable adult with a recognised disability - Asperger's syndrome! But it's the poor victims like him who get caught in those inhumane laws. The real terrorists slip by

Richard, Liverpool, UK

The 42 days extension would not have deprived people of thier civil liberties as it would have only come into use in exceptional circumstances and would have needed approval from numerous authorities, including parliament. The police also supported the bill, showing its relevance to investigations.

Nick, London,

people should look at what the law describes a "terrorist", for there own good, memories arise for the jews , when the german law changed people followed suit, in the end did the jews deserve their unjust treatment, one day we could be labelled terrorists for standing up to a corrupt government

john, birmingham,