I was disgusted to hear that Rudi Vis, MP for Finchley and Golders Green, knew that Labour's 42-days detention without charge was wrong yet he abstained (Vis: I couldn't deliver another blow to Brown'', Times Series, June 19).

His justification, that the measure may be overturned in the House of Lords, rings hollow because the Government can easily use the Parliament Act to override the House of Lords.

Mr Vis seems to have forgotten that he is in Parliament to represent the people of Finchley and Golders Green, not to pamper the ego of an unpopular prime minister. He will not be standing for re- election and all I can say is good riddance.

Voters deserve an MP who places their interests above any party's interest. Can I remind Mr Vis that the most infamous MP to put his party before his country was Stanley Baldwin, who refused to rearm despite the looming Nazi threat, leaving Britain unprepared for the Second World War. Churchill never forgave Baldwin for his cowardly decision and history has rightly judged Baldwin harshly.

James G Fluss
digitallogic@freeuk.com (postal address supplied)