ChangesPosted by David Shepherd on 13-6-2008 14:43

David Davies the Shadow Home Secretary has resigned as MP so that he can stand as MP to encourage a debate about freedom and civil liberties in the UK.

Clearly he is miffed by the Government's stand on locking up suspected terrorists for up to 42 days without being brought before a court. So he gives up his ideal position on the Tory front bench, where he can bug the Government to his heart's content, to become a backbencher. From there he will only get occasional air time in Parliament.

So is he a fighter for freedom? Or is this a 'stunt?' Has he fallen out with David Cameron? Or what?

Comments on this Item
ChangesPosted by Stuart McLean on 13-6-2008 16:45

This is SOOO untypical of me but I'd give him the benefit of the doubt. I think he's right that this is a very serious issue - and whatever you think of him or his motives, he's stopped the 42 days thing just slipping past un-noticed. People tend to agree with this in the name of anti-terrorism, but would you be happy to be held for 6 weeks without charge just because you were an anti-blood sports protestor for example?

ChangesPosted by Mark Oates on 13-6-2008 18:55

This is, of course, what everybody has conveniently forgotten about the changes to Habeas Corpus. It's one thing to be using the law in the name of public safety, but we all know you can't trust politicians not to misuse the law. It might be used against terrorists today, but what about fuel protestors, striking trade unionists, congestion charge protestors?

However, I don't trust David Davis's motives for a nanosecond. I think this is him trying to take over the Conservative Party by stealth. I think Labour is right not to contest the seat and validate what he's up to (in any case the voters of Haltemprice and Howden would probably elect a chimp if it was wearing a blue rosette).

He's right to make a stand on the issue, but I doubt if moral right is his motive and honestly I would laugh like a drain if this all blew up in his face and he lost his deposit when he stood for the seat.

ChangesPosted by David Beckett on 14-6-2008 14:52

I agree with what Mark said re: the potential for misuse of the 42 day rule but think that David Davis has had a falling-out with Cameron and is doing this for purely narcissistic reasons.

He says he's doing it to raise a debate about civil liberties but the fact that he's going to be standing against Kelvin McKenzie (Rupert Murdoch) and whatever loony fancies risking their deposit makes a mockery of the democratic process.

ChangesPosted by David Shepherd on 14-6-2008 15:09

David Beckett writes that David Davis had a falling out with David Cameron. If this sets a precendent - I wonder how many Labour MPs have fallen out with Gordon Brown and will resign.

We could be having by-elections every week!

ChangesPosted by David Beckett on 16-6-2008 17:47

Don't think I'm any sort of authority! I have no idea why he resigned - just a guess - if everyone that fell out with their party leader decided to step down, it would be a case of musical chairs with a bye election every week.

ChangesPosted by Si Wooldridge on 16-6-2008 20:08

I don't believe that David Davies is that cynical, but I guess I'm probably as biased for as Mark is against.

What bothers me most about this so far is that the media are only using this as an example of disarray within the Conservative Party (conjecture rather than fact though) rather than focussing on the fundamental question of the erosion of civil liberties.

The Labour Party are collectively (front bench at least) pushing this as a 'stunt', even though some of their own backbenchers say that they'll also campaign for Davies.

ChangesPosted by David Shepherd on 3-7-2008 07:56

Apart for seeing David Davies on Question Time a week or two ago, I haven't notice any national debate about civul liberties. To some extent I guess the news has moved on.

Which may say something about the nature of news itself.

There may be a concern in the Westminster 'village about civil liberties but it is not a subject that crops up in daily conversataion. People I meet seem much more energised about the state of freedom in Zimbabwe. The civil liberties there are horrndously bad compared with the UK.

David Davies will soon be in the where are they now brigade who thought their point was of national importance rather tan of national interest.

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