Shadow home sec resigns from Commons over 42 day detention

Dartzap · Post by **Dartzap** » 2008-06-12 10:20am

Shadow home secretary David Davis has resigned as an MP.

He is to force a by-election in his Haltemprice and Howden constituency which he will fight on the issue of the new 42-day terror detention limit.
Mr Davis told reporters outside the House of Commons he believed his move was a "noble endeavour" to stop the erosion of British civil liberties.
The 59-year-old is one of the best known Tory MPs and his resignation came as a complete surprise in Westminster.

He told reporters outside the Commons: "I will argue in this by-election against the slow strangulation of fundamental British freedoms by this government." BBC Political Editor Nick Robinson said it was an extraordinary move which was almost without precedent in British politics.

'Personal decision'

Shadow attorney general Dominic Grieve is to take over as shadow home secretary. Asked about Mr Davis' resignation, Tory leader David Cameron said: "It was a personal decision, a decision he has made."He said it was a "courageous" move and he hoped Conservatives would support Mr Davis's by-election campaign.

But he stressed the work of the shadow home secretary - on knife crime and other issues - "must go on" and he praised the man replacing him, Dominic Grieve, as a "star performer". Lib Dem leader Nick Clegg, who also voted against 42 day detention, said his party would not be fielding a candidate in the by-election, after speaking to Mr Davis.

'Stunt'

Labour MP Denis MacShane said he was sure Mr Davis would win the by-election but added "I think this will be seen as a stunt" which showed the Conservatives were "utterly unfit" for government. The former Europe Minister said he thought Mr Cameron had "cut the ground from under David Davis by not pledging to repeal 42 days" if the Tories won the next election.

But he said Mr Davis' decision to resign was "a bad day for Parliament" and said he did not personally think Labour should run a candidate against him in the by-election. In his resignation statement, Mr Davis attacked the growth of the "database state," government "snooping" and the destruction of civil liberties.

"This cannot go on. It must be stopped and for that reason today I feel it is incumbent on me to make a stand," he told reporters."At least my electorate and the nation as a whole will have had the opportunity to debate and consider one of the most fundamental issues of our day - the ever intrusive power of the state into our lives, the loss of privacy, the loss of freedom and the steady attrition undermining the rule of law," he said.

Local party

Mr Davis' local party fully backed his decision, its chairman Duncan Gilmour said."David discussed early in the week what he would do if the result went against us last night."David is a man of principle and we fully back him," he said. The Lib Dems had targeted the seat in 2005 as part of its ill-fated "decapitation" strategy to unseat key Tory figures but Mr Davis was re-elected with a 5,116 majority.

Nick Clegg said the party would fight the seat at the next general election but he said the "unnecessary and illiberal" 42 day proposal transcended party politics.

Is he being sincere or pulling a stunt? My Political Cynicism detector is failing, help!

Hillary · Post by **Hillary** » 2008-06-12 10:28am

I call stunt. He's in a pretty safe seat and people are unlikely to vote in a Labour MP at the moment. The Lib Dems also seem unlikely to contest it.

Hopefully we can rely on the much-maligned Lords to kick this law into touch anyway.

Minischoles · Post by **Minischoles** » 2008-06-12 11:05am

Its purely a stunt designed entirely to further his own personal prestige and power, since he's in one of the safest seats possible theres not a chance he won't be re-elected and he can then use this to fight against the 42 day detention, which is stupid since it should go through.

Unfortunately as Hillary said the Lords will kick the law into touch anyway and I doubt Brown can force it through the Commons once more.

Hillary · Post by **Hillary** » 2008-06-12 11:33am

Minischoles wrote:Its purely a stunt designed entirely to further his own personal prestige and power, since he's in one of the safest seats possible theres not a chance he won't be re-elected and he can then use this to fight against the 42 day detention, which is stupid since it should go through.

Unfortunately as Hillary said the Lords will kick the law into touch anyway and I doubt Brown can force it through the Commons once more.

You misunderstand me. I'm rather hoping the Lords WILL vote it down. Why on earth should it go through? The police have never even used the 28 days they currently have.

The Guid · Post by **The Guid** » 2008-06-12 11:54am

I think to call it a stunt s naive. He wants to bring this issue to the foreground and change Britain's way of thinking about these things. The Tories need to look tough on terrorism to secure the moron vote, so this can only do him harm. If it is a stunt, which I doubt, its a fucking stupid one. If its a principled stand, I think it is a worthwhile one. It'll mean this issue of 42 days won't go away for a while.

Darth Tanner · Post by **Darth Tanner** » 2008-06-12 02:24pm

I'd go for the principle option. Especially considering he apparently didn't inform Cameron about it until afterwards.

Its probably also a way to get himself some more media attention, I bet hes still sore after not becoming leader, especially as it looks ever more likely whoever is leader of the Tories will be PM next election.