SIR -–The Tories’ record on civil liberties when in power was not good – they made many supposedly temporary anti-terrorism measures aimed at the IRA permanent – but New Labour’s is nothing short of appalling, with matters set to get worse if they return to power.

In their 13 years we have seen the period someone can be detained without charge rise from three to 28 days, the longest such detention period of a democracy.

Their ill-drawn-up and wide-ranging anti-terrorist legislation gets used by the police to coerce and control often totally peaceful protest, and they are trying to introduce their un-needed, expensive and insecure identity card scheme by the back door so they can further control us.

There is no crushing need for most of this legislation. We are not in an emergency such as the Second World War, we don’t face a terrorist threat like the IRA. Yes, there is a problem with a few religious nihilists, but we don’t need this sweep of legislation.

New Labour is obsessed with appearing tough for the tabloids and has got into a legislative arms race with the Tories, leaving us with an authoritarian kindergarten worthy of the former East Germany.

Simon Stewart, St Paul’s Road, Manningham