GORDON Prentice kept up his rebellion against the government's controversial new anti-terror laws last night as the government forced the measure through the House of Commons.

The Pendle Labour back bencher was one of 37 to oppose the proposals and defied Tony Blair to vote to increase the "burden of proof" for the issuing of a Control Order on a terrorist suspect from "reasonable suspicion" to "balance of probabilities."

The government made a series of concessions to rebels including agreeing that, as well as the most severe order imposing house arrest on an individual, the lesser versions restricting movement, association and the use of mobile phones and the internet should be issued by a judge rather than the Home Secretary.

The government also agreed to review the legislation annualy and renew it with a vote of both Houses of Parliament.

But the government refused to raise the burden of proof or to agree to a Tory "sunset clause" which would require new legislation in November.

Now the government has sent it back to the House of Lords and faces a final showdown with the Tories and the Liberal Democrats who are both determined to vote it down.

Mr Blair said they should give way to the directly elected House of Commons where the majorities were over 84 last night compared to 14 last week.

He said to try and stop the legislation which was necessary to protect the nation's security would be "irresponsible and wrong. "