Abstract
Ever since the events of 9/11 the so called ‘war on terror’ has radically changed the nature of public and political debate. As Tony Blair famously said, ‘the rules of the game have changed’. In his view and in the opinion of many others questions of justice and freedom need to be understood in a different light. Indeed the majority of MPs were so persuaded by this view they were prepared to support the introduction of 42 day detention without trial (at the time of going to press, however, the legislation has still to be passed by the House of Lords). Only a decade ago few would have thought this possible.