It's a sad state of affairs when you have no confidence that this was not political. When you can't trust the governement or the police to behave responsibly then things have come to a pretty pass. ZanuNuLabour!

tris, dundee, Scotland

Impossible to believe the government knew nothing! What's more they actually should have known if a democratically representative of the people was to be arrested.

More sloppy government. More disdain for democracy.

Sandy, Stamford, England

Has Nu Labour became Zanu labour?
Our once free country is getting a touch of the Mugabes....

Scott, Aberdeen,

Is this 2008 or 1984?Enough said I think.Pre budget leaks good anything else bad if it shows this Government in a bad light.

R.Hart, Sutton Copldfield, UK

I was so disgusted by this I immediately joined Liberty (http://www.liberty-human-rights.org.uk/). It has been building for a while but this was the last straw.

Robinson, London, UK

One more step towards an authoritarian state. If this can happen to an mp, what hope for the rest of us in the face of increasing state powers.

w amerena, nottingham,

The arrest of a politician because he embarassed the sitting government is the mark of Stalinist dictatorship. Juast as bad is the fact that according to this article, the mayor of London knows more about what's going on than the government do. The dishonourable members of the cabinet should resign.

KR, Stockport,

Um, anyone up for ID cards now?

Victoria, London, UK

Why don't the Conservative Party just allow the police to follow the evidence, why the anti-police comments by, Cameron, Davis and Johnson. I wonder Is it because the shadow cabinet have other moles in the civil service breaking the law by leaking documents.

Anthony J, Alton, UK

If Ministers knew about this we are living in a police state.If Ministers did not know about this we are living in a police state.

Peter DICKINSON, filey, uk

Was his DNA taken as a result of his arrest as in the case of us ordinary mortals?
Once again this is a good or more appropriately, terrible, example for the brigade that believe "If you have done nothing wrong you have nothing to fear"
We obviously have a lot to fear...

Freedom, Tunbridge Wells,

Ian Blair knew , Boris knew,the home office knew but Jaqui and Gordy DIDNT know.
Yeah , right !!

theoldpole, shepherds bush, england

I am now beginning to believe that the law changes regarding our hard earned civil liberties, are not to protect the masses but protect the government from us, when we find out what as really been going on.

Mark , Yorkshire,

More evidence that a full blown police state is now inevitable if Labour manage to win the next election. So welfare spongers, £50,000 a year Zest co ordinators and lavishly treated immigrants take note, the cost of your priviledged lifestyles will be your freedoms.

steve lloyd, swansea, wales

Only yesterday, I overheard a conversation in a cafe when someone said: 'this country will be a police state within 18 months' It is a very sad day when that statement is proving to be true and even sooner than predicted. God help us all.

Emily, Oxford,

the massive, urgent diversion of police resources is particulary dismaying.
I am beginging to become used to responses from the metropolitan police such as 'ring us if they come back' - a police 999 operator on violent thugs exiting the scene. or: 'the officer in charge is on a course for 3 weeks'

harden, islington, london

J Smith is out of control. ZaNuLabour is corrupting our public life.

Paul Freeman, London, England

Nothing is surprising now that Peter Mandelson has become the most powerful person in Britain.

Brian Christley, Abergele, UK

This unelected government is using the anti terrorist laws for any and everything, the councils and every UK bureaucrat now has more power than Stalin. I am afraid of living in my own country. It may take a real revolution for us to get our freedom back. . . . . . . . . . or maybe even an election

andy, london,

Browns takes us back to1984....
ID Cards, 1000s of new laws, speed cameras everywhere (to mention some of the civil liberty infringements) and now the arrest of a member of parliament who represents the people who elected him.

Anyone else think all this is going a bit too far?

Scott, Aberdeen, UK

very well timed that this was done on a day when the whole world is looking the other way ! again the police abuse powers [not a shock] but liberty and their ilke stay quiet [bit of a shock ]
and the goverment lies through its teeth [even more not shocking !!]

mat, holyhead, wales