Grieve: Tories will repeal 42-day detention

Huw Thornton

Wow, I'm flabbergasted if this report is correct. Whatever the point of principle, it does not look like a smart move to me.

mart

Excellent news on the announcement by the new Shadow Home Secretary.

Sorry if I am being slow, but what new light does this shine on Mr Davis's actions?

Pete Hoskin

mart: one likely assumption was that Davis had left because the Tories wouldn't commit to repealing 42-days detention.

Now they have, it makes Davis' departure all that more mysterious. His line on the matter is the same as the Tory line on the matter. Now, though, he's in a weaker position to actually act on his principles should the Tories get into power.

ACT

Let's be precise. The light it shines is on Cameron's actions, or rather inactions. Hitherto Cameron had absolutely refused to commit to repealing 42 days, should he get into office. As a result of DD's resignation from the Commons, he's completely and immediately flip-flopped. Which is a useful lesson to learn for everyone else right wing who actually wants Cameron to do something conservative in office.

Max

No, I still can't decide if this is courageous or silly.

Max
http://theerrorlog.blogspot.com/2008/06/42-days-deals.html

mart

Pete, thanks.

ACT, I would have to disagree on your last point. The matter at hand is that rare thing: a thing of value to those of right and left. Namely, freedom.

CharlesOJ

It's so rash and emotional that the lobby hacks don't know how to react.

I think the public will decide whether it is a cheap stunt or an impassioned act by Davis' demeanor. I believe his sincerity will shine through.

When he gave his resignation speech he looked 100% honest about his reasons - and seriously pissed off. I'm guessing that his "name recognition" factor will soar - and he will be seen as a gutsy, emotional and maverick politician. Hey, the guy was in the SAS.

You could hardly imaging Ed Miliband doing something like this, could you?!

A massively risky, genuinely well motivated move. You don't get many of those in British politics anymore.

PayDirt

You guys are talking all about freedom, freedom to bomb the population. You're either crazy or you just don't get it.

Ian C

Charles OJ, if you're right and I would prefer to think you are, what is the thinking behind it that gives a junior your job while you're out fro the count and Brown has been had a leg up back into the stirrups? It seems like a very dubious way of going about it, not just risky.

WEAK CAMERON

So a shadow cabinet member throws a hissy fit and Cameron caves in. In the words of Blair...WEAK WEAK WEAK!

Carol-Ann

Why do the leadership and frontbench not understand Brown is RIGHT on this issue. The public support him and want tough terror laws. There are so many other, much more important issues to people at large, that the Tories could take a stand against Brown on. This is sheer madness!

Annoyed

I cannot believe this has the Tory party taken leave of it's senses?? Just when Brown was on the ropes, he has now been given a reprieve. The media has now been given the narrative they crave:

'Tories in disarray' and 'Tories are split'.

And DOMINIC GRIEVE as a replacement, PATHETIC!

Kirsty

Has David Cameron lost his mind? Dominic Grieve? Another White, middle aged, elitest, man in the shadow cabinet, GREAT NOT!

Tel, spain

Dominic Grieve is a disastrous choice. He has not got a profile with the public, he seems a bit of a geek and I do not think he is the right person to take on Jacqui Smith.

Chris

Davis has won then? This was always about committing the Tories to repealing these laws and he has achieved it (probably a lot quicker than he imagined). He doesn't look so foolish now.

Chuck Unsworth

"it makes Davis' departure all that more mysterious"

Conspiracist!

Why not take it a face value for a change? But perhaps your belief is that there are no men of principle any more - and you may well be right, God help us!

Fergus Pickering

No Carol-Ann, Brown is not right. The public is not right either. The public used to support identity cards, But they don't now. Give Davis half a chance and he will convince the public. And what issue is more important than the individual's freedom againt the power of the state? Or do you supose, Carol Ann, that they will never come for you?

Max Kaye

The public may not support Davis on the '42 days detention without charge' issue, but they are definitely with him on his protest about this government's authoritarian tendencies (ID cards, National DNA Database, etc.).

Cameron and the Tories know this - and would be stupid to ignore it. Hence their support for Davis.

Max Kaye

Pay Dirt - so the mad bombers (and I do agree that there are some mad bombers) will bomb us is they can be detained without charge for up to 28 days, but not if they could be detained for up to 42?

Why 42? Why not 43? Why not 2,334,675? I really want to know why 42 is the answer.

Robert Williams

Grieve, a man with this attitude to the 7/7 murderers:-

"Senior Tory says that suicide attacks are 'totally explicable'

http://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/crime/senior-tory-says-that-suicide-attacks-are-totally-explicable-501240.html

Is there any doubt that Brown will make hay with the "Tories soft on Terrorism" line?

wonderfulforhisage

Fifty years ago a principled stand by a politician would have been easily understood.

Today most commentators seem confused/bewildered because,I suppose, principles in a politician are in most cases non existent. How times have changed.

CS

A few of the regular visitors to this blog need to take a leaf out of DD's book and discover their balls.

It's pathetic how many are swallowing the Labour line that this shows the Tories in total disarray.

Labour loses its majority becasue it can't bring enough of its MPs to stomach 42 days and only scrapers through by bribing the DUP and with the aid of the appalling Widdecombe.

Only one Tory votes against the party line. One Shadow Cabinet member resigns in a huff.

Result - Labour are united and the Tories in disarray. Act your ages.