Yet another example of Nu-Labour's intent to load heavily the scales of justice. At the next general election they must be booted out of office and legislation enacted to ensure that they can never ever govern again.

David, Cheltenham, UK

The original justification for the slackening of the divorce laws used the same argument. There really is no excuse in this day and age for a battered partner to not just leave the relationship, sorry. the 'slow burn' argument is rubbish.

JAMES, Liverpool, MERSEYSIDE

So a woman who fears violence from her husband can use that as a partial defence for killing him.

And what of a householder who kills an intruder in response to a fear of serious violence?

Edward Tweedly, Leighton Buzzard, UK

These reforms are basically legitimising pre-meditated murder.

If you have the willpower to plan a murder, you have the willpower to leave a violent partner.

Abusive men are a serious problem in our society, but we need to encourage women to shun them, not kill them.

Sean MacDhai, Berwick, UK

For those who can get hold of it there's a very interesting article in this month's American Spectator about how the likes of Harman et al do the cause of equality a huge disservice. As a man who naively believes in justice & fair play I recommend it to you.

Matthew, Falkirk, UK

The article makes clear this legislation isn't 'man bashing' because it isn't gender specific - if women are going to use this defence more often than men and 'more male partners will be convicted of murder' it's because women are more likely than men to be attacked in this way. Whose fault is that?

Jen, Manchester,

Murder is murder man or woman and we need to keep the maximum deterent possible which in this country is life and it should mean life! If we start giving excemptions then this makes an even greater grey area then before in the lawl. As Errin Prizzey said about abuse there is always a route out!

Dave Farmer, Broxbourne, England

Harriet Harman really wants to lose the next election for labour doesn't she?

You can kill your man in his bed, when you could just leave, but discover you're raising 3 kids when you find your wife in bed with their real dad, and in that case, you've got to be happy, move out and pay her for it.

Mark, London,

Having been in a violent relasionship when I defended my son and me against a man twice my size I was then arested and jumped on by 4 male police officers as I would not come "queitly." Yes it is about time we had some equality, its not an excuse for murder but justice!

Lauren, Stoke on Trent,

I think it's time we dispensed with the sophistry around this issue.

Only the extremely naive, or self-deceived would be incapable of seeing this insidious and unreasonable gender-political reform for what it is. Adding more fuel to the growing flames of antifeminism.

Dr K Liebens, london, uk

Danielle B: Not a law against men? You presumably didn't read the paragraph quoting Maria Eagle then.

Brian, Leeds,

Not really seeing why only male rape victims are allowed some dispensation for killing their attackers if tormented. Why don't female rape victims have the same latitude? It's still sexist in favour of men even though, to give them their due, this appears to be what they are trying to change.

Thalia, london,

None of the comments so far left on this article are accurate. This isn't a get out clause for women who murder husbands and it's not a law against men. It clearly states in the article that this defense can only be used in extreme cases where there is a proven cycle of abuse.

Danielle B., Ascot, UK

Interesting. Will this law "protect" the disturbed school boy adolescent who, after years of sytematic abuse and bullying at the hands of his fellow pupils, finally exacts his disturbing revenge on his tormentors?. Surely this is no different to "battered wife syndrome"?.

Neil, Fife,

why limit it to murder, why not GBH or ABH? either the action and/or intent are ulawful or they are not

peter c, devizes, wessex

Very similar warped principles as the recent 'equality' law. In the same way as discriminating against men does not right wrongs of centuries gone by, killing a murderer doesn't make sense either - it's still wrong. This is worse than capital punishment and will make the world more dangerous.

Simon, York, England

Can't you see what they're doing? N Labour is doing it's damndest to make Britain such an ugly place to live, the population will scream for Shari'a Law just to tone things down!!!

Very clever ploy. But at least we know the agenda. I'd leave UK tomorrow - but to where????

Chris Williams, Bridgend, UK

More man bashing then. Literally and figuratively. I never agreed with the twisted thinking of the leftist crowd when they were at university and now they're older they govern like they're still a bunch of dogmatic PC students. I don't think this man will be voting Labour for a very, very long time

Edward, Edinburgh, UK

"Fear of violence" is hard to prove or disprove. Law that is based on something that is hard to prove is bad law. This law will make it possible for any paranoid wife to kill her husband on the basis that he "may" attack her. No doubt this is what Harman wants.

Martin, Newmarket, Suffolk

Harriet Hatemen, having made it legal to disrcriminate against white males is now making it much easier for wives to murder them. There doesn't even need to be any violence, just the "fear" of violence. I can't believe that any man is seriously considering voting Labour at the next election.

JS, London,

Will this end the egregious and sexually-discriminatory nonsense of "battered wife syndrome," which is nothing more than legalized vengeance killing for women? Or will this just be another bit of anti-male bigotry being entrenched in the law by Labour?

Nick, Rotherham, UK