RETIRING Blackburn MP Jack Straw told Parliament he was ‘not dead yet’ as he attacked Home Secretary Theresa May for weakening controls on terror suspects.

He intervened in a debate on Mohammed Ahmed Mohamed, 27, who absconded from a London mosque disguised as a woman in a burka. He is the second suspect under a ‘TPim’ order to go missing in a year.

Mr Straw, a former Home Secretary, told Mrs May: “There were no abscondings under control orders in the five years from 2007 after they were strengthened, but two abscondings in the past 10 months since TPims greatly weakened the controls on these individuals.

“Do you recognise your fundamental responsibility is to take proper measures to protect the safety of the British people?”

Mrs May replied: “You have given many years of service to the Commons, to your constituents and to the Government in various roles. I am sure there are many people who will be sorry to see you go.”

Commons Speaker John Bercow added: “May I say on behalf of all MPs that the way in which, after 30 years of uninterrupted service on the Front Bench, you have shown your continuing respect for Parliament and enjoyed something of a back-bench renaissance over the last three years is hugely respected?”

Mr Straw, who stands down at the next general election, said: “May I thank you both for your generous remarks and just say that I am not dead yet?”

Mrs May insisted the system for dealing with terror suspects was ‘strong and sustainable’ and Mr Mohamed posed no immediate threat.