So Brown has his 42 days detention, the unionists have their demands met; but I feel this is a terribly dark day for future politics, the British people and our civil liberties.

The Unionists should hang their heads in shame - they sold their votes to the government, and we will ultimately pay the price. It's been said by commentators that the final agreement was for Brown to pay them a lot more money to subsidise their taxes, as well as have their leader as chairman on an important committee.

I can honestly say I am disgusted to call myself British today.

I doubt this debacle will save Brown either; the knives are still going to be sharpened, you can almost hear it in the background every time the feature pictures of house of commons. After all, he only won by nine votes.

It seems clear that nothing will make Brown change his mind, even if he knows himself he is wrong. That was why it took so long for him to make the u-turn on the 10p tax rate.

I felt sorry for Brown's cabinet; I would guess that if anyone does disagree with him, they'd be shouted down and so they all merely go along with the plan, even though they knowwhat the public reaction will be - but decided to bide their time.

Brown comes across as a total bully, but one that is apparently confused and bewildered as to why his dream job has gone so horribly wrong. I do often wonder if the contempt with which he treats the British public is because he blames us for ruining his job.

He doesn't understand that he's utterly out of touch with the country he runs, let alone the voters. I think he sees himself as being soley in charge; that the rest of parliament in general, and NuLab in particular, are only there to support his ideals and aims.

Today's vote on the 42 day detention has borne all this out - he was prepared to give the Unionists whatever they wanted, no matter the cost, to obtain their votes and force through his aim.

I feel that not only did civil liberties take a step towards the precipice today; but so did democracy.

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"Some men aren't looking for anything logical, like money. They can't be bought, bullied, reasoned or negotiated with. Some men just want to watch the world burn" - Alfred Pennyworth, 'The Dark Knight'