Earlier today I had decided to have a three day break from blogging, for reasons which I will explain later on today or tomorrow. Just as well I didn't.
David Davis is resigning from the Shadow Cabnet, resignng his seat and will fight a by election on the 42 days issue.
More later...
This is just bizarre! And the BBC say that CCHQ will not give this "their full attention" ?!
ReplyDeleteMaybe I'm being thick but I don't understand what the fight is about: only one Tory voted for 42 days..?
ReplyDeleteWhy ? Why ? Why ?
ReplyDeleteWeren't they rough enough with Anne Widdecombe ?
Should have put the thumbscrews on the DUP ?
Or have some skeletons in his closet started to rattle ?
How come you are out of the loop, Iain, and we have to hear this first from the BBC ???
ReplyDeletehttp://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/newstopics/politics/conservative/2116367/David-Davis-to-resign-as-shadow-home-secretary.html#continue
ReplyDeleteCuriouser and curiouser the question must be , what is it that Cameron did that D D could not put up with. Did he engineer the defeat by refusing to bribe Paisley ?
This is bewildering....come Iain sort it out , you must surely know soemthing
Today was a bad day to decide to take a rest from blogging.
ReplyDeleteSerious kudos for Davis from me for doing this. I'm not a Tory supporter, but I'll support DD to the n'th.
This could be awkward for Cameron.
ReplyDeletewhat's his current majority?
ReplyDeleteIain,
ReplyDeleteI want to know more about Davis but now I'm more interested in what you WERE doing in your aborted 3-day break!
Anyway, why does Davis have to fall out with everyone?
ST
I thought this was a joke! but just checked on BBC as seems to be true!
ReplyDeleteHe's top of the One O'clock News !!!
ReplyDeleteWhat a media tart !! Loverly !!
Go David !!
I've no idea about the motives for this. Perhaps he wants to make a stand on the issue and face down some of the authoritarian factions within the party.
ReplyDeleteIt will also allow the issue to be properly scrutinised in what will amount to a quasi-referendum of the type governments used to call general elections over.
I for one, will be heading home in order to make the short hop over that Humber Bridge to campaign for him whenever that election is.
Blimey - he's got some balls. It's a great speech he's making. Great move by the Tories.
ReplyDeleteYay ! David Davis is fighting back !
ReplyDeleteGo David 'Fuc*ing Brilliant' Davis !
Respectamundo !!
A man of principle and will lead the Conservative Party yet, at which point, I will pledge the Tories my vote.
ReplyDeleteIt will be interesting to see who supports him. My guess, William Hague, yes, whose heart isn't really in the Tories under Cameron.
Davis as PM and Hague as Foreign Secretary. John Redwood as Chancellor. IDS as Home Secretary.
A true man of honour, a man of integrity.
ReplyDeleteI wish him well and I hope that Cameron recognises a man of courage.
AnnWiddecombe should also resign and hang her head in shame. She is a disgrace to democracy.
As for the DUP. Paisley has shown he will and did do anything for 'power'. No doubt he will be in the Lords now.
Power corrupts absolutely and Paisley and his colleagues have shown contempt for the deaths of all the galland and brave ENGLISH, SCOTTISH and WELSH soldiers murdered in Ireland.
I'm looking foward to the 'more later' Iain, as it seems a seriously strange move at this stage given polls have shown the public massively in favour of 42 days. (I'm not I have to say, but I'm not at all sure about this as a credible means to fight it).
ReplyDeleteso it's a stunt that'll cost the taxpayers money. Can't he just write a column for a newspaper or appear on Today or something..?
ReplyDeleteWhat a self-centred tosser, a gold-plated gift to Brown.
ReplyDeletejeez! Good Man!
ReplyDeleteGood statement he just made, but how much of it was aimed at Cameron?
ReplyDeleteIf the subject is 42-day detention, then Davis is being honourable and right. Just as Sir John Major said, the detention is a disgrace, and totally against the principles of democracy.
ReplyDeleteWow! Iain, please do keep us posted on this.
ReplyDeleteHe should be deselected...such a strange thing to do and the timing is awful.
ReplyDeleteIf the Lib Dems do not put up a candidate, he'll be fine, but that's not the point.
He needs to win the by-election massively, but I can't see it happening.
What a day to give up sniffing glue,eh?
ReplyDeleteOh dear...
ReplyDeleteDC has gone back on his pledge to repeal the 42-day detention law if he was elected as PM.
He is standing as an independent and the Libs aren't opposing him.
ReplyDeleteWHAT IN GOD'S NAME IS GOING ON HERE?
What a risky strategy - who knows what will happen. Could go really well for Davis and Tories. On the other hand Gordon Brown could laugh all the way to the polling station
ReplyDeleteHe will fight a by election.... the honourable thing for other parties is to let him win, unopposed and not field a candidate.
ReplyDeleteDavid Davis an MP of principle. At long last an MP prepared to put everything on the line for his beliefs.
ReplyDeleteA brave, principled move for Davis... but the Beeb will focus on the "Tory split" side of this. Cameron's PR team will need to find some way of countering that.
ReplyDeleteVer negative commentary from Nick Roninson on the Beeb at 1.00 pm. "This is all about David Davis and David Cameron falling out, shades of Tony versus Gordon, DC and other MPs will be very annoyed, voters won't like a by-election foisted on them etc etc" was the gist of what he said..
ReplyDeleteNo "MP resigns - shock horror - on an issue of principle!" I think voters will be seriously impressed that someone is prepared to risk so much - especially as opinion polls show voters are in favour of 42 days etc.
I think it could galanise support for us in the long term.
Let's hope he doesn't ask you to run his campaign or he's done for.
ReplyDeleteA leading politician with principles?? Shurely shome mishtake...
ReplyDeleteWhat's Cameron done to force him to do this? After all, as Home Secretary he could have repealed the law when the Tories come to power.
ReplyDeleteCameron won't make him Home Secretary now. Too much of a loose cannon.
Would it be too much to hope that DD will now at last start speaking out on behalf of his English constituents?
ReplyDeleteHe's on record as wanting an English Parliament. An issue he watered down for his cabinet post and a few crumbs from McCameron's tartan table.
Iain - if the party doesn't swing fully behind this many of us will.
ReplyDeleteWhilst his reasons for doing this may be perceived as noble - it seems to me to be a publicity stunt.
ReplyDeleteIf this is endorsed by the Conservative Party they should stump up the entire costs of the election - in otherwords all the costs for the election services at the local town hall. In most instances elections cost £100,000 for which David Davis should be held personal responsible.
Have you volunteered to be his Chief of Staff again?
ReplyDeleteAmazing. I'm note sure this stunt will achieve much unless he gets over 80% of a high turnout.
ReplyDeleteIt does make me wonder though whether a tactic like this might have worked well for them over the Lisbon Treaty. What if earlier this year, a dozen Tories in marginals all over the country had resigned to fight on the single issue of a referendum? I think that would really have frightened the government, and perhaps forced it into a corner.
Maximum respect to David. His decision takes some courage.
ReplyDeleteI am pleased someone has decided to take a stand against Blair/Brown's efforts to destroy ancient civil liberties and create an Orwellian state.
I say this as a Labour Party member and if I can get to Yorkshire I will campaign for David I will and frankly if Labour wish to exple me over this so be it.
Good luck David the people of England are with you.
I certainly didn't anticipate this, and don't understand the ramifications. So where do people go for breaking news like this, and informed comment (apart from here)?
ReplyDeleteI am using Politics Home
This is a remarkable piece of politics. No doubt he will win, and in the process give himself a mandate to hammer Brooon on 42 days.
ReplyDeleteWell done to David Davis.
Just heard his speech. Bravo Mr Davis. I'm not a natural conservative, but increasingly I've found David Cameron in tune with my own concerns, and David Davis' principled stand seems to me at least completely in tune with with the Tories stand against the 42 detention debate yesterday.
ReplyDeleteI feel Nick Robinson completely misread the situation on BBC1 seconds after David Davis finished speaking. Surely, instead of highlighting supposed differences between Cameron and Davis, I would have thought it shines an almighty spotlight on the governments stealth removal of our hard fought for freedoms. How could this possibly be interpreted as a conflict situation between Davis and Cameron? Its a brave move, but not one that smells of internal conflict.
In many ways, Davis' speech reminded me of his friend Tony Benn at his very best.
Hope you are in good health. If not, hope you are on the mend
ReplyDeleteThe Conservatives are fortunate to have a man as principled as David Davis among their number.
ReplyDeleteHe's on the button when he talks about excessive intrusion of the nanny state and the constant erosion of fundamental civil liberties.
A truly noble gesture and I urge Conservatives everywhere to rally around David's cause.
what ?!
ReplyDeleteGet off sky and get blogging!!!
ReplyDeleteWhat do I click your adverts for?
I really don't understand why he's done this, he seems to be shooting himself in the foot and damaging his party in the process.
ReplyDeleteA second thought: is this the first concrete sign of Tory-LibDem collaboration that could go further? It'll be interesting to see if the LibDems offer Davis any active support as opposed to just stepping aside.
ReplyDeleteWell done that man. And perhaps somebody else could resign over the Treaty Referendum. That would send those bastards a message.
ReplyDeleteWhat a man! Where do we sign up for his campaign?
ReplyDeleteWonderful speech, Crazy decision, Much respect.
ReplyDeletePS// How did you get to the Sky News office so quick..?
Mr Davis teaches Our Gordon what being a conviction politician really means.
ReplyDeleteThis is very risky, He's going to fight a by-election on a point that goes against public opinion, This could all go wrong for him.
ReplyDeleteProud to be the first blogger on this site to congratulate David Davis' brave decision - this aong the most important debates on the nature of UK society. I hope that my party, Plaid Cymru, will be able to use the forthcoming by-election period as a chance to promote our vision of a libertarian society in these islands.
ReplyDeleteUnbelievably stupid grandstanding from Davis. He'd hardly got the words out of his mouth, before Nick Robinson jumps in to tell us this is a disaster for Cameron, a disaster for the Tories, etc.
ReplyDeleteBrown must be chuckling for a change.
Unbelievably stupid grandstanding from Davis. He'd hardly got the words out of his mouth, before Nick Robinson jumps in to tell us this is a disaster for Cameron, a disaster for the Tories, etc.
ReplyDeleteBrown must be chuckling for a change.
He's bound to win it, whatever the constituents think of 42 days. I think it's a good chance for different solutions to be aired how about allowing post-charge interrogation and detention? Any freer?
ReplyDeletePlease resist the temptation to call it a "brave" move. "Brave" has nothing to do with it, and he's even persuaded the LibDems not to stand as a condition.
Some sacrifice!
Iain
ReplyDeleteYou used to work for him I think. Can you explain what on earth is going on here?
Having had my doubts about Davis over the years, I do rather admire this move, which comes across as faintly Churchillian - which is to say, self-promoting, theatrical and alarmingly risky, but at the same time, exciting and even inspiring in its devil-may-care nuttiness.
ReplyDeleteAlthough Cameron is putting a brave face on it, it doesn't feel like his sort of project - it will be interesting to discover the back-story.
Nice to see an MP showing the courage to challenge this government. Good luck to him, I wish him well
ReplyDeleteWhat are everyone's thoughts on this then? I confess to being torn.
ReplyDeleteFirst thought: Fair doos, clearly feels passionately about this.
Second thought: Futile gesture politics. Vote's been won, there's no chance he'll lose the by-election, a few days extra press coverage on an issue that has already had wall-to-wall coverage for the last month. I believe the denials of a rift with Cameron, but it still looks as if your shadow home secretary is hardly singing from the same hymn sheet if he jacks his job in on a whim.
I listened to his statement outside the House. I thought how refreshing it was for there to be someone of principle prepared to take a stand on an important constitutional issue. I do hope the leadership of the Conservative party goes up there and campaigns with the same vigor as in Crewe. If they don't there'll be trouble.
ReplyDeleteAnyone taking bets on whether Labour will hang onto its deposit?
The Spanish Inquisition!
ReplyDeleteYes he is a man of principle, but he is also a plonker. Davis is an asset and would be an asset to any Conservative Government.
ReplyDeleteWhat a deep, deep shame. I thought old soldiers like him would not dream of shooting themselves in the foot.
Good for him! If I possibly can I shall go up to Haltemprice & Howden to help with his campaign.
ReplyDeleteP.S. (OBN attempt) thought you came across very well on the World at One, Iain.
Finally an MP who is worth his weight in expenses.
ReplyDeleteGreat speech by David Davis - It isn't just the 42 days, it's the whole prying, snooping, torture flight enabling, CCTV Stasi State.
And greatest soundbyte of yesterday was from Tony Benn - 'British families have more to fear from repossession than Al Quaeda'.
Anti-Brown By-Elections - bring 'em on.
I'm very confused at this decision. There must have been arguments in the shadow cabinet over this. If he wants to take a principled stand then why not work with all his might to remove this aberration of a Labour government.
ReplyDeleteThere is much more to come to light on this news.
I just googled DD. The first search result is of course, Conservatives.com.
ReplyDeleteGo to the site, it reads
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We are currently carrying out server maintenance. Please check back later.
How are you going to defend this one Iain? This a truly mad decision> There is no logic to it. What is going on inside the Tory high command? Davis, as shadow Home Secretary, supports locking people up without charge for 42 days under the Civil Contingencies Act.
ReplyDeleteThis is mad, mad mad. Brown must be opening the bubbles as I write this.
Is this the day the Tories fall apart and lose the election? I think it maybe.
I agree with your comments on BBC News Iain - i was inspired by David's statement - so good to see some conviction and passion - the sell off to the DUP was a disgrace!
ReplyDeleteIt could backfire on him
ReplyDeleteI've just watched his resignation speech. What a contrast between DD and so many other MPs.
ReplyDeleteI wish him all the best. I hope he's returned with a larger majority and I hope this vile government have their snouts rubbed in the dirt.
What a shocker, Davis is probably our best communicator to the general public - how could Cameron let him do this?
ReplyDeletecome on Iain what is the inside word - what are your views. You know him better than most, we want your input.
ReplyDeleteWell that's something I had not expected!
ReplyDeleteIain giving up blogging for three days I mean....
I did wonder what the status update on Facebook on Saturday (Iain Dale is preparing for an important event.)was all about!
A commendable, principled stand if the record on Public Whip is incorrect:
ReplyDeleteDavid Davis Haltemprice & Howden Con (front bench) absent
A bit bizarre if he was, indeed, absent from the vote.
Good interview Iain, well done.
ReplyDeleteI will give Davis all the support I can. As far as I'm concerned David Davis has just announced that he will fight to protect my Liberty. He should receive the support of all free men and women.
Very well done David.
Can anyone explain to a Westminster outsider exactly how David Davies taking this action can affect the decision taken in parliament yesterday?
ReplyDeleteI do not see the point. Surely he will win as a local candidate in a safe tory seat. I respect him but it does seem a bit attention seeking. No offensive meant. :
ReplyDeleteWhat cojones!! Slightly risky but strategically brilliant. I feel really proud to be a Tory today.
ReplyDeleteJust now watching your interview on BBC. Well done for pointing up how good it is to see a politician acting on deeply held principle, well done for putting Dennis McShane's facile comments in their proper place, well done for dealing properly with the typical BBC-type questions.
ReplyDeleteThis will sound stupid, but I watched David Davis's statement with tears raining down. At last, some principle in politics. How far away he is from the dirty UDP quislings and other assorted recipients of bribes.
I do not in the least impugne the appointment of Dominic Grieve as his replacement. It is a splendid and overdue promotion, but I do hope David Davis makes it back and takes a proper place in the forthcoming Conservative government.
What times!
By God, he rises in my estimation.
ReplyDeleteBefore the Tory blogosphere spontaneously combust with excitement at Davis' 'brave' move, let's call this for what it is. A gimmick.
ReplyDeleteDavis has already reached an agreement with Clegg that the LibDems will not run against him. Given that they were the second party in Davis' constituency, there is no prospect whatsoever of Davis losing his seat. He will return to the commons after a phoney by election campaign and be elected on precisely the same basis as he was this morning (i.e. an MP who disagrees with a policy of the opposing party).
Now if Davis had demonstrated this sort of courage when his own party was in power and promulgating policies with which he disagreed, I would admire him.
But this is nothing more than a political ruse designed to keep the 42 day issue in the headlines as the media follow the pretend by election campaign. If I were Labour, I would call his bluff and not run a candidate in opposition.
Perhaps we could have a Tory MP in seats where the Liberals are in second place and where the Liberals have agreed not to stand, resign each week on the EU Treaty, Northern Rock, Gordon's quoting of Tim Montgomerie etc
Pathetic political game playing.
At last a politician with a backbone who is prepared to stand by their convictions! Apart from the obvious, the 42 days has me worried for the following reason. The last anti-terror law has seen local authorities check on the toilet habits of dogs and to see where children live in relation to schools - and that is just what we know about! On these actions being found out, nothing was done by HM Gov to clarify and rebuff the use of this law and there is no reason to see why this would change with 42 days. The authorities only have to declare someone a terror suspect and that's them done for. I don't think PACE or the lack of control on the other terror law I have highlighted will manage this. The inability to manage as well as govern is also abundently clear in the latest secrets find on the train.... Has Brown & the Labour Party gone under the surface for the third time yet?
ReplyDeleteWhat would a DD victory in the by-election prove?
ReplyDeleteIt's a safe Tory seat, and if the Lib Dems don't field a candidate there's no chance DD would lose.
What's the point?
And we get Dennis McShame coming out with a typical NewArbeit talking head curl-out.
ReplyDeleteDennis would not resign to save his grandmother from being torn apart by wolves - the trough is all too important for the likes of him.
Davis has balls so big now that they could alter the earths orbit, so giving an excuse for AGW Enviroloons to back out of their bullshine story about Global Warming - "It was Davis' Balls that Saved us!".
They may, for once, be right, but not in the way they think.
Dear Mr Dale,
ReplyDeleteHooray that someone has the backbone and principle to stand up against the increasing state intrusion into our lives, and the way the Government bulllies us into compliance. Well done Mr. Davis, this is the most honourable thing I can remeber a politician doing.
Allan George
Three cheers to Davis, brilliant news. This will take the wind out of the snotgobbler's sails!
ReplyDeleteIain I was looking to you ahead of all people to comment on this news. As you really do know the man and how he thinks. You have commented on the BBC, but not yet here. Has Iain Dale's diary become your secondary activity. Shell we just turn to Guido to break big stories?
ReplyDeleteA politician with principles!
ReplyDeleteIf only David Davis was leading the Conservative Party!
It's 2.25pm - Comments on politicalbetting.com: 375.
ReplyDeleteComments on Iain Dale's Diary: None.
Oh Dear!
John Redwood has given full support (see his blog).
ReplyDeleteErm...he's got a safe seat!
ReplyDeleteThere are rumours that Labour will not put up a candidate, calling the by-election a gimmick.
ReplyDeleteStill can't make up my mind if this move is inspired or mad, but his speech to the Press was excellent, and should get printed in full in every newspaper.
If this by-election at least gets people discussing the whole issue of what liberty means, it will have been worthwhile.
Judith
ReplyDeleteLabour cannot win.
If they don't put up a candidate, then they will be deemed to be unable to defend their own actions - this gives more weight to the Lords.
If they do stand then the voters get their chance to trounce them.
Only if the Conservative party get lilly livered will there be anything in this for Labour.
Games theory - collaboration wins.
Davis is clearly angry at the increasing totalitarian state that we are in. You and me too I think, so lets wish him well lets hope he gets plenty opportunities to expose the govenment. Lets hope he has plenty evidence lets hope if people have vidence they give it him.
ReplyDeleteThe lib dems are not standing so if labour run and hide as well they will be shown as cowards.
Even if labour run away Davis will have 3 weeks to expose labours totalitarianism.
Its perhaps a bit over melodramatic.
But what is surely to be applauded is that Davis is saying he does not believe in 'triangulation'.
End triangulation -- hip hip hooray!
Sorry all you DUP-types.
Sometimes there is not much party leaders can do - dependent on events - but Cameron and his Grieves response have been pretty coherent and confident, so its hard to see how its harmed them.
Clever move my DD. Not in embarrassing the Govt, but by Jove, he has relaunched his Leadership Ambitions with aplomb.
ReplyDeleteCameron must be twitching a bit, what do you think, Iain?
David Cameron is on a flying visit to Cornwall today. I bet he is sorry he has visited the County, as it is jinxed for the Tories. David Davis'resignation will be the Weeks Political talk point and no doubt will be for Camerons visit in Cornwall.
ReplyDeleteThere has been a lot of talk about former Cornish Tories standing as Independents. This resignation can only give encouragement for them to do so.
Good interview on the Beeb. However I disagree and am sceptical of his real reasons. Personal ethics? I don't think so.
ReplyDeleteIf Labour won't put up a candidate they've effectively conceded defeat over the issue.
ReplyDeleteJust one more thing - hundreds of British soldiers have died to support liberty in Northern Ireland.
ReplyDeleteHow does the DUP repay that -- by infringing liberties in Britain.
Watershed or what? Conservatives will look differently at NI now.
And I believe (and I am a right wingish tough on crime conservative voter) that the great mainstream conservative opinion is against 42 days. Conservatives are tough on crime but are libertarians as well - and our liberties are being destroyed by this government.
I've never voted tory, never thought I would, but wish I was in DD's constituency so I could vote for him and the vital principles he's standing up for.
ReplyDeleteAnd to those on this blog saying this 'stunt' will cost money, is distracting etc Would you prefer the ease and cheapness of dictatorship over democracy-in-action?!
We in labour must stand a candidate. We must fight for national security It is a safe tory seat so he will win but so what you have to fighr every seat. I respect the tory MP who resigned his seat but I support 42 days. In national security.
ReplyDeleteIt's good to see the NuLab trolls here peddling their line of "nothing to see, move along". Just you keep believing that, chaps. Have they already forgotten their filthy campaign in Crewe and Nantwich, or are they hoping we have?
ReplyDeleteIt's not so good to see them taking personal swipes at Iain for being out of touch - particularly when he was on the BBC and Sky commenting about DD.
"I cannot see an up-side for the Conservative Party in this. This can only be seen as a challenge to David Cameron. Why has he done this? Why now? Why did his job not give him a sufficient platform to make the case he wanted to? Why has he decided that he needed to resign to campaign on the erosion of civil liberties and on 42 days, when he was the Party's spokesman on those issues? No doubt we will find out more soon, but my current emotion is utter dismay. It suggests that DD believes the Party does not share his commitment - why else resign?"
ReplyDeleteI agree with that and I do not like this one bit .
What a cynical move for Davis to resign on the day of the Irish referendum and hog the media coverage.
ReplyDeleteI am in East Yorkshire. I will volunteer to help Dave Davis out in any way he wishes.
ReplyDeleteI know he supports an English Parliament and that ought to earn him the respect of every fair minded person in England.
Go, David.
"All that is necessary for evil to succeed is that good men do nothing."
ReplyDeleteDD is a good man and he's doing something about this evil.
I'm with DD, but if Gordon Brown had any political nous, he would not contest the by-election - and say so before 6 o'clock tonight. That would make the whole thing a half-day wonder.
ReplyDeleteOh hang on, I said "if Gordon Brown had any political nous". Sorry, my bad.
I don't think that Davis has been very clever over this. Yes there has been a lot of grandstanding on this issue by both sides - but it is usually the last person who does the grandstanding (and boy has he granstanded) who looks the most stupid.
ReplyDeleteMy guess is that the Goverment understood that they had no chance of getting this through the House of Lords, but at least now they are in a position to negotiate a compromise that will deal with the problem of allowing the authorities more time to investigate terrorist activities while at the same time stopping the possibility of those suspected undertaking terrorism.
The idea suggested by Helena Kennedy this morning of questioning the suspects on bail which they are subject to control supervision orders appears eminently sensible.
If the Labour party decide not to contest the election then that will show they have no...what was that subject Brown wrote about?. courage!
ReplyDeleteThey have said as a Labour Government how essential 42 days is to fight terrorism.
Let them prove the point to the only opinion that matters --the people!
I am sick of the BBC and SKY putting it about that it is all about Cameron and Davies. I will admit that Cameron has never shown courage and I believe he would have accepted 42 days..I thought he was particularly weak against Brown at PMQ's yesterday.. BUT
This is against the worst government in history trying to remove our hard fought for rights.
Magna Carta and all that!
Good luck to David Davies.
ps. I wouldn't trust that Dominic Grieve as far as I could throw him. What a shyster!
Iain..please stop anonymous comments on this please, I am sick of Brown's poodles and their silly comments.
I don't get it. What does this achieve? We knew he was anti-42 days before and he will still be when he gets back in after the BE. So what?
ReplyDeleteSurely what is required is for like-minded Labour MPs to quit either en masse or in rapid succession and get re-elected on an anti-42 days ticket. Broon would then see his - or rather Blair's bequeathed - majority disintegrating by slow increments. He would have to pay attention to that.
I assume then that this is simply a move by Davis to force Cameron to put abolition of 42 days into the manifesto.
Someone has edited the Constituency Wikipedia page already!
ReplyDeletehttp://tinyurl.com/6cl6x7
Well done Davis Davies, you've wiped the crooked grin off Brown's ugly mug in one fell swoop. He'll be shitting himself over this. All the unprincipled Labour turncoats who were bought off by Brown's bribes will be unable to evade the issue.
ReplyDelete"he has relaunched his Leadership Ambitions with aplomb"
ReplyDeleteAbsolutely not.
My earlier post shows I support Davis - but as a right wingish tory I have absolutely no problem with Cameron as leader. I totally agree that the totalitarian government needs exposing -- good luck to Davis, but Cameron is the best leader, and the leader after him will I am sure not be Davis
BTW
you wait ages for a by election then 3 come along at once.
I don't understand his position. Surely he should be fighting on a platform to dismantle 28 days as well. But, he supports 4 weeks but not six. The poor man is utterly confused.
ReplyDeleteI think Crusher Davis has read the mood just right.
ReplyDeleteI would suggest you read the once uber (but increasingly ex-) New Labour Metropolitan journalists on the issue of nanny-gone-mad.
Nip over the Camillia Cavendish at the The Times today...
http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/comment/columnists/camilla_cavendish/article4116302.ece
....and read the last post for New Labour.
Believe me, when this lot bail out, Broon and Co are finished.
The Conservative Party should field an official candidate (Davis should be stripped of his membership for his vainglorious betrayal).
ReplyDeleteDavis bangs on about principles, Magna Carta, etc., we live in a Representative Democracy the vote was won by the Government he should abide by that and instead of his act of petulance he should use his privileged position as an MP to change the law from within. He is now going to waste tens of thousands of taxpayers money on this selfish stunt, and give a boost to grumpy Brown.
The truth is he's mis-read the nation, many conservative voters like the population as a whole don't give two hoots whether religiously muddled bigots are held for 42 days or 420, just as long as they are not free to plot, conspire, kill and maim us....and so really undermine our liberty and democracy.
LET THE PEOPLE KICK TRAITOR DAVIS OUT OF PARLIAMENT!
J
15:15 and as the tumbleweed blows idly across the face of Dale's Diary, we wait for the grat man to speak...
ReplyDeleteMy first reaction was shock and bafflement. My second, after his speech at 1 o clock, was an absolute thrill that we have one elected politician who is willing to take a stand on our ancient democratic rights.
ReplyDeleteBravo!
Will you be taking Shami Chakrabarti with you on the DD campaign trail Ian?
ReplyDeleteHadncuffing himself for 42 days to the PM would be a far more effective protest than wasting tax payers money.
ReplyDeleteGood on DD and a great speech to boot. It isn't just the 42 days issue, it's a whole raft of legislation this rotten authoritarian government has forced upon us.
ReplyDeleteOne wonders what Eric 'Smiler' Pickles must be thinking at this juncture ?
ReplyDeleteGo on, Iain, get him on the blower !
This could go badly wrong and can only help Brown get up off the floor. A stupid self indulgence by the Tories once again.. three words come to mind for the Labour reaction SPLIT SPLIT SPLIT
ReplyDeleteDo you think that Labour will field Tamsin Dunwoody as their candidate?
ReplyDeleteThey'll need someone who doesn't get too upset about crushing defeats and she has recent form...
I wonder what babes will volunteer for Basher Davis' campaign team?
ReplyDeleteThe Guardian has a quote from Steve McCabe, the Labour MP behind the toff campaign in Crewe and Nantwich: "This surely shows the arrogance and contempt he has for both parliament and his constituents."
ReplyDeleteNeed I offer a critique?
Sorry I think DD has lost the plot, not to mention some of the fantastic traction that the party has achieved in the last few months.The contents of his speech was bang on the button and very overdue, but resign and have a by election, what in the name of God is that going to achieve????
ReplyDeleteHe might get a shock if Haltemprice and Howden CP decide to dump him though...Gesture politics at its worst!!!!!!!!
Torymory said...
ReplyDeleteVer negative commentary from Nick Roninson on the Beeb at 1.00 pm. "This is all about David Davis and David Cameron falling out, shades of Tony versus Gordon, DC and other MPs will be very annoyed, voters won't like a by-election foisted on them etc etc" was the gist of what he said..
And he's right to say it.
You don't damn well complain when he's spouting the same dire stuff about Labour at every opportunity!
Labour doesn't need to stand anyone against him in a by-election, they've already won the argument in the HoC and a majority of the public support 42 days. It's a bit of an empty gesture winning back his already won seat with no opposition. In a desperate attempt to buy votes the Tories have manacled themselves to Shami Shakrabati and co. so you better live with it even though the public won't.
Why did he really resign. Is he trying to form his own party.
ReplyDeleteWhat do you think would have been Blair's response if Robin Cooke had resigned to fight his seat over a 1995 piece of eminently repeal-able piece of legislation?
ReplyDeleteThe Labou Party must be rubbing their eyes. They've just gone up to at least level in the polls.
I do not support Grieve who spoke out on grammar scholls against the tory leader.
ReplyDeleteI personally think he has made a very brave and principled decision. He has laid a libertarian marker for the Conservative party, despite Grieve's announcement on the issue, it's stil unclear which side they will come down on ideologically in the longer term.
ReplyDeleteWhilst he'll re-claim the seat, it's unclear if it's politically sensible for the party or for him personally. However, I suspect that's not really the point of what he's doing.
Totally inspiring speech from DD. David Cameron and Dominic Grieve have been great too.
ReplyDeleteI agree with David Davis entirely and will try and donate some money to his campaign. (Please Ian find out how we can do this)
I can't believe Labour are calling it a stunt! Standing up for what you believe and offering yourself for election.. a stunt??? They really are on a different planet. They talk about Britishness, ha! They have no conception of what parliament or government are about.
For the second day in a row I'm very proud indeed to be a Conservative.
So Gordon Brown it was 'opposition for opposition's sake' was it? If you had any moral fibre at all you'd resign your seat, but not fight to regain it,as you are a disgusting liar and a hypocrit.
Good for him. Don't let the issue drop, don't let Brown use the Parliament Act on the Lords.
ReplyDeleteThose of you 'on the inside' in Westminster may see this as a Davis / Cameron thing. I don't. Just DD standing up for what he believes in.
If that means I'm naive then so be it. But when I find that I'm impressed with the speech from Diane Abbott (!) yesterday, I'm just glad that there are still some parliamentarians prepared to break away from prepared grids, plans and being 'on message' and just doing what they think is right. Our democracy might get more 'messy' but it would be a lot stronger.
***In a desperate attempt to buy votes the Tories have manacled themselves to Shami Shakrabati and co. so you better live with it even though the public won't.***
ReplyDeleteSo the Tories are attempting to buy votes by aligning themselves against a policy apparently supported by two thirds of the electorate? Do you actually engage the brain before you start typing?
Davis will have to pray that there's not a bombing before polling day.
ReplyDeleteSound chap. I shall gladly head up to yorkshire as often as I am able.
ReplyDeleteThe fact that the labour trolls see everything as a political game shows how unfit they are to run the country.
***many conservative voters like the population as a whole don't give two hoots whether religiously muddled bigots are held for 42 days or 420, just as long as they are not free to plot, conspire, kill and maim us....and so really undermine our liberty and democracy. ***
ReplyDeleteDoesn't that translate as: "many conservative voters like the population as a whole don't give two hoots whether religiously muddled bigots are held for 42 days or 420, just as long as they are not free to plot, conspire, kill and maim us....and so really undermine our liberty not to be held for 42 days or 420"?
So, essentially, you're saying liberty from excessive state powers for the whites but not for the darkies.
Sounds like you have some muddled bigots a bit closer to home than you realise.
Briallant
ReplyDeleteDavis can campaign with Shami Chakrabarti and all the Humman Rights crew, while his [party and himself denounce the Human Rights crew.
When the dust settles, Davis will realise what a disater today has been. Labour will not field a candidate, cannot expect the government to partake in a one issue by election stunt.
He will win the election - then what make him Shadow Home Sec, after defying his own party.
David Davis is so vain. What an ego maniac.
ReplyDeleteThere is more to this than meets the eye.
I hope Cameron keeps Davis on the backbenches when he returns (he will return). What an attention seeker he is.
Pointless, weird and unintelligent move by Davis.
Unless of course there are 'MP expenses' stories lurking about somewhere on Fleet Street??
Cameron should move on - quickly.
From bbc.co.uk:
ReplyDeleteForeign suspects held in Guantanamo Bay have the right to challenge their detention in US civilian courts, the US Supreme Court has ruled.
The court said the detainees "have the constitutional privilege of habeas corpus".
Justice Anthony Kennedy said: "The laws and constitution are designed to survive, and remain in force, in extraordinary times.
Maybe the tide is turning in the US as well?
What a week! And there's still the Irish referendum result to come...
eh? don't get the point of this at all.
ReplyDeleteHe's resigned to force a by-election, which given the current anti-brown feeling he'll walk anyway.
So what's he going to prove?
Now if a labour front bencher had resigned and stood as an independant then I could understand. But the tories were against 42 days anyway?!?!
Very odd, very stupid.
The really interesting thing about this is which candidate Conservative Home will support?
ReplyDeleteAfter they so spectacularly put paleo-ideology before party yesterday, how could they not support a Labour candidate who espoused their civil neanderthalian prejudices on detention without trial, ID cards and the other manifestations of the surveillance state Davis is standing against?
Cornerstone for Labour!
Authoritarians of all parties Unite!
As a Labour supporter until a couple of years ago, and a Green voter now, I have to say that I admire David Davis for his courage and his integrity - two qualities that seem in short supply from the man with the "moral compass".
ReplyDeleteCompare David Davis with Austin Mitchell. mr Mitchell said on Radio 4 news last night that he did not support 42 days but to have voted in line with his conscience would have "made things bad for Gordon" - so here is a man who hasn't got the guts to stand up for what he believes in - and some of the NL shower wonder why they are no longer respected by the voters.
Alan
Curmy said...
ReplyDeleteI really don't understand why he's done this, he seems to be shooting himself in the foot and damaging his party in the process.
June 12, 2008 1:31 PM
Really?
What comes first, the party(which doesn't reflect the interests of its supporters)...or the COUNTRY...which is going to hell in a handcart at present?
It's not just about 42 hours...it's about our life & liberty for which so many have given their lives & so few seem to care about.
Liberty means little until you've lost it.
Well said Pete!
ReplyDeleteI am thrilled to bits. The action was daring and I believe he has read the mood of the country regarding the ever-tightening state grasp around the necks for formerly free Britons.
What a day for democracy! And as someone pointed out above, we still have Irish Referendum result to come.
The Tory Leadership Election is on, I see.
ReplyDeleteOne of the morally and socially conservative, Eurosceptical, Unionist remnant, or at least some as near thereto as could possibly be permitted within the Shadow Cabinet, has finally had enough (at least fifty years late, but never mind), and is quite clearly mounting a challenge.
Almost everything on Davis's entirely correct list of assaults on liberty was pioneered by the Tories' immediate previous Leader when he was Home Secretary, and it is inconceivable that the Cameroons really would repeal any of it.
The Conservative Party's refusal to fund his by-election campaign says it all, as does Cameron's stitch up of no candidates from the Lib Dems (certainly) or Labour (probably, and in that case in breach of its own Constitution) in order to deny Davis his victory.
If Labour really won't be putting up, then one of the commentariat supporters of 42 days should do so as an Independent. What are they afraid of?
There is an underlying point here. People go into politics because they believe that the State should do certain things.
When the State delivered education and health care, and ran things like railways and mines, then it felt no need to introduce ID cards, or to bang people up for six weeks without even so much as charging them, or to keep vast databases on them, or to watch them all the time. For that matter, no such needs were felt when the Police patrolled the streets on foot.
But now, having arbitrarily decided that they will not do such sensible and necessary things as delivering education and health care, or running railways and mines, or ensuring that the Police patrol the streets on foot, how are the political and administrative classes to occupy their time?
Why, by introducing ID cards, and banging people up for six weeks without even so much as charging them, and keeping vast databases on them, or watching them all the time, of course.
That, and waging pointless wars.
Dear anonymous at 3.21 pm.
ReplyDeleteThe public have bought the line "if you are innocent you have nothing to fear" with regard to 42 days etc. However DD campaign will really bring it home to them what these laws could result in for to "ordinary, innocent" people.
20 years ago at the height of the IRA's campaign (in which they specifically targeted Tory MPS and activists) a very charming Irishman called Mike became active in my local Tory Association. I and some of my friends spent many an evening talking politics with him over a pint. He was very keen to attend the Tory conference that year.
Then one day he disappeared without a trace. Shortly afterwards Special Branch came visiting and interviewed some of us re Mike.
Was he an IRA terrorist who got cold feet? (He did say he liked us - I like to think he thought the better of going through with any plan that might hurt his friends). We shall never know.
However if he was, then I and various others would have been "associates" of his.
Could the police have detained us for 42 days?
Imagine if Mike had been an Asian Muslim - and the friends he had associated had also been Asian Muslims. Would they - although completely innocent - be in danger of being locked up under this legislation? I am sure they would.
3 of the 6 people detained under the 28 day rule were released on day 27 but never charged (it looks like one was brought to the attention of the police solely on the "evidence" of an associate who bore a grudge against him.) 28 days detention is more than enough time in which to lose your job and maybe your home - let alone 42 days.
There are many other actions the goverment scould be doing taking against terrorism.
Sorry I meant to addrsss my comments above to anonymous at 3.41 pm not 3.21 pm.
ReplyDelete@Zeddy.
ReplyDeleteTories and Shami oppose 42 days.
The Govt and a (alleged) majority of the public support 42 days.
surely if Liebour chose not to stand against DD they either endorse his position or fear a fight?
ReplyDeleteThe really interesting thing about this is which candidate Conservative Home will support?
ReplyDeleteSince someone at ConHome's already taken to deleting comments critical of David Cameron, and indicative of any kind of 'rift', we can perhaps assume that he's already in 'nanny knows best' mode, familiar from the time when he suppressed his own poll results because they demonstrated, just before a Tory Party conference, that the grassroots weren't that keen on Mr Cameron. But yes, he must be finding it jolly hard to square the particular circle he's created for himself.
@ anonymous 3.15
ReplyDeletethe population as a whole don't give two hoots whether religiously muddled bigots are held for 42 days or 420
No, you've missed the point - which is that, as sure as God made little potatoes, this law will be used to imprison people who aren't terrorists.
Would you personally be OK with you being imprisoned for six weeks without charge and without knowing the evidence against you? Not some terrorist, but you, you yourself you, personally? Lose your job, your home, lose contacts with your family except for an hour a week or whatever, live in prison among violent convicts, innocent of everything while the police get a nice leisurely six weeks to frame you?
That's the exam question here. Think plod wouldn't screw it up? Jean Charles de Menezes probably thought the same. And those guys they shot in east London who hadn't done anything. Stop thinking about this happening to some abstract "darkie" and think about it happening to you. Still happy with 42 days?
I wonder if we any anti-42-day MPs (especially Labour MPs) reading this would consider following in Mr Davis's footsteps and also resigning and fighting a campaign on this basis? It would certainly cause a major rethink in Gordon's strategy.
ReplyDeleteWhat an utter plonker Davis is.And he is supposed to be on the right of the party! A measure of the extent to which it has lurched to the left...
ReplyDeleteIf David Davis was genuinely interested in the erosion of British liberty (not English liberty as the Tories mistakenly keep stating) then he'd have resigned over the issue of 28 days.
ReplyDeleteWhy now on 42? What is the magic difference with an extra two weeks.
Its pure cynical opportunism and has had the other unforeseen effect that it has managed to deflect attention from Gordon Brown and onto the differences in the Shadow Cabinet.
So, back to the issue, why 28 good and 42 bad?
Hear Hear David Davis, a man in Politics who has honour!!! He was the right man for the leadership. Shame the boy wonder got it.
ReplyDeleteverity said...
ReplyDelete"I am thrilled to bits. The action was daring and I believe he has read the mood of the country ..."
The mood of the country on the 42 days issue was demonstrated by all the opinion polls which showed an overwhelming majority in favour of the proposed measures.
Conand said...
ReplyDelete"Totally inspiring speech from DD. David Cameron and Dominic Grieve have been great too."
In his TV interview from Cornwall, it was obvious that David Cameron was furious at the action taken by David Davis. He couldn't have been less supportive.
Verity 4.41pm
ReplyDeleteI think your being a bit naive. The EU will find a way of getting a Yes in Ireland and elsewhere eventually.
Jeremy Jacobs, I'm not naive at all and you are correct. That's why I am one of the millions who got not just out of Britain, but out of Europe.
ReplyDeleteThe Stazi, in the form of councillors checking on garbage bags, for God's sake, and where children registering for a specific school live and not being allowed to speak one's thoughts because that's another case for the UK Thought Police and an old couple getting a visit from the UK Thought Police because they asked their local council if they could display Christian literature next to a table displaying gay literature (a forty minute visit while they were chastised and - attempted reprogrammed) ... immigrants from less stable cultures brought in to destablise our own ancient culture ... who wouldn't elbow their way out of this hellhole? Well, those insulated by money who never had to deal with it, of course - although didn't Harriet Harperson wear a Kelvar outfit to visit her own constituency?
Naive? I think not.
I absolutely support David's decision. Its about time someone stood up for us.
ReplyDeleteThe rest of the Tory Party shouldn't hesitate for one minute to get aboard his campaign to be re-elected.
Now if only we could persuade Brown to stand for an election?
He could have had it all come the next General Election. All he had to do was keep his powder dry and wait. Well, he's blown that... It's political obscurity for him because he will just be seen as another ranter no matter how he seeks to justify this potty decision.
ReplyDeleteThe bottom line is that the issues he is raising (not just 42 days) are of such importance that they should receive the support of all who value freedom.
ReplyDeleteI find myself genetically incapable of voting Tory, but Davis has won my lasting respect and admiration for this move. The trend towards 'guilty until proven innocent' is very frightning, and I commend Davis for his action.
ReplyDelete