Davis: the word in Westminster

MartSharm

It could go either way for Davis himself, although I see this as a watershed moment: when an MP thrust himself into the limelight over a point of principle in an unprecedented way, an issue we all should care deeply about.

Much kudos to Davis; the repercussions will be felt across politics for a long time to come. The point that intrigues me the most is: will the Tories hang Davis out to dry (presumably at the behest of a Cameron unwilling to have the limelight dragged away from him and his curent plans derailed) or will they support Davis and emphasise his principled and selfless qualities, implying this will set the tone for a forthcoming Conservative administration?

Ian C

I have always been persuaded by two arguments well made by Davis. 1) That we have sufficeint laws in place to detain someone as long as we need and 2) The powers will be 'misused' [by incompetent and poorly managed police; my addition].

However, I cannot see that Davis can be doing anything other than handing advantage to Labour by his move at a time when we wanted to move on to the next disaster that will shorten Brown's tenancy on No 10. They have won the vote, albeit without much in the way of principle but hey! that's politics (and it should never have been a party political vote anyway).

I can only conclude that he is trying to commit a Tory government to repeal and Cameron has replied when asked "we'll have to see".

All round a bad move by Davies who I have admired but always had my doubts about. Just when he had dispensed with those doubts he has done something stupid.

James Allen

my knee-jerk reaction is that this is a spectacularly selfish and self-important decision by David, who has clearly not put his ambitions to exercise political leadership behind him. It also seems impractical. The Lords will never let the law pass, so it won't come onto the statute book until next year, and will only have 12 months to stand before the Tories reverse it in 2010. What's the point?!!!

mart

Mr Brown was not getting a good press over this matter, so there's not much to gain in terms of party politics. But somehow I imagine there is rather more than party politics on Mr Davis' mind.

Anyway we are where we are. I hope the news people give Mr Davis plenty of coverage.

He has certainly stuck his head over the parapet, and for that I feel very generous towards him. But I don't live in his constituency (I don't even know where it is!) so my support is neither here nor there. (Well, I suppose literally and pedantically it's here but not there.)

If anything good comes of this it will be a focus on the policy of the Conservative party. A solid statement from the Conservatives listing some illiberal laws they would review or repeal when in office would be a very welcome addition to serious national politics.

Paul Walter

"when in history the last by-election was called over an issue "

Corn Laws? Much more recent than that. Anglo-Irish agreement - Ulster Unionists resigned en bloc....

KB

Perhaps this will put a stop to those who constantly whinge about Cameron. Imagine having a nutter like DD leading you into the next election.

Danvers

If (a big "IF") the Labour Party has any sense it will not contest the by election and thereby neutralise the protest, and possibly turn it against Davis by complaining about the unnecessary cost to the tax payer.

F T P Topcliff

The really interesting thing about this is which candidate Conservative Home will support?

After 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!

Max Kaye

Fraser, is 'A journalistic colleague' just a euphemism for clueless person?

molesworth 1

FTP Topcliff @4.29

"paleo-ideology" - very good. I have been chuckling over that for at least 10 minutes now...