IF THE local MPs who helped inflict the massive defeat on Tony Blair's 90-day terror law thought they'd win support from their constituents, many are in for a rude awakening.

In a series of street interviews with people of all ages and backgrounds, Daily Echo reporters could find virtually no one who agreed with the move to throw out the proposal to allow police to hold terror suspects for 90 days without charge.

Many voters accused their MPs - returning today to their constituencies from Westminster - of playing politics with public safety and putting their own ambitions before the needs of the country.

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Sheila Chamberlain, 73, from Christchurch summed up the general feeling. " I don't think the MPs were voting for the people but themselves," she said. "They put political arguments ahead of people. We would have been happy with the 90 days for the protection of the rest of us."

Fellow constituent James Simpson, 65, agreed. "I think Tony Blair should have won and I am disappointed that Chris Chope didn't vote for it," he said. "It was a vote against Tony Blair rather than the 90 days and I think Tony Blair and the police were right."

Wendy Lovegrove, 52, of Christchurch was also disappointed. "I am surprised at the result and surprised that Chris Chope voted against it. I think they should have gone for the 90 days, but they were more concerned with human rights than public opinion."

Sixty-eight year old Jim Bailey of Christchurch said: "The government wasn't looking for votes - they were looking to stop al -Qaeda."

Kinson shop assistant Jane Jennings, 24, said MPs should have weighed their ambitions against the prospect of people being bombed. "As long as suspects are not mistreated while in custody and they are fed and watered then I would rather take that risk than seeing innocent people bombed on a bus."

Fitness instructor Peter Knight, 47, of Hamworthy said the 90 days was necessary. "Police have asked for more time to do their jobs so who are we to decide otherwise? Or MPs for that matter? The police always have to be accountable for their actions, so they are not going to detain people willy-nilly."

Michael Parks, 62, from Parkstone did not understand why so many MPs voted against Tony Blair's policy. "Either you have to take a strong line against terrorism or you don't," he declared. " It's not about politics."

Gail Blackmore, 49, of Bournemouth, said the police should be given as long as necessary to question suspects. "I feel the government was correct on this one," she said.

But some people did not agree. Talbot Woods pensioner David Hearne, 66, said: "On the one hand police often have very little information to work on and therefore should be given enough time to question suspects, but on the other I'm glad we have not reduced our civil liberties."

West Cliff resident Brian Watson, 52, was more vehement. "I think the 90 days proposal was an excuse for the government to infringe on our civil liberties. I think 28 days is sufficient enough, and I'm glad the government didn't get its way."

Every single MP in the Daily Echo circulation area voted against the 90-day proposal apart from Dorset South Labour MP, Jim Knight, who loyally supported his leader. He refused to criticise his colleagues for pulling the political rug out from under Mr Blair but concentrated his fire on the Conservative Party instead. "It was done for political reasons and that's something to be regretted," he said. "I am very disappointed that so many MPs decided to ignore the wishes of the public and the police on this one."

First published: November 11