A Coffee House challenge

Percepied

It would be easier to keep DD in the news - and have the 'slow strangulation' story by association - than maintain momentum around the slow strangulation issue itself (unless The Sun runs some setpiece debates on the issue).

So you make the story about divisions and tensions within the Conservatives, brought to a head by the 42 day vote, with DD looking to use a massive victory in the by-election as a platform for a leadership challenge.

It is messy and destuctive, but it becomes the slow motion car wreck that will guarantee ongoing coverage of DD's campaign.

Dave B

I think he's suggested highlighting one issue a week.

Perhaps an Intelligence Squared style debate every Saturday evening?

Tim Hedges

Make an FOI request for all CCTV footage of Kelvin McKenzie and play it in the media

Dave B

Daily 'on this day in history...' press releases.

Highlight an injustice (from any country in the world) that would have been impossible under British law before the Labour Party came into government in 1997, but which would now be possible in Britain, due to Labour's attack on our civil liberties.

Fergus Pickering

42 days is not the point The point is BIG Government steamrolling our ancient freedoms, Big Brother watching our every move the Man from the Ministry knowing best (a slogan much like that brought Churchill back and sent Attlee packing). The Irish vote on the EU and the Commons vote on 42 days are really part of the same thing. There's lots of mileage in it, though I agree that the older you are, the more forcefully do you feel about it. If you're Davis's age or my age then you are closer to Hitler and Stalin. Brown is a Stalinist bastard. His cabinet are faceless apparachiks. Keep on at that.

Scott

Given that not putting up a candidate is an act of cowardice by the Labour Party, any mileage in someone dressed in a chicken suit turning up at every event featuring a government minister for the next month? If those people were then arrested under civil disobedience legislation, so much the better...

On a more serious note, how hard would it be to organise a public debate on the issue in Gordon Brown's constituency? Invite David Davis and an empty chair. Could the Question Time producers be persuaded perhaps? Also, David Cameron and the Conservative Party voicing strong support would keep the media interested a bit longer.

If the story is really that the public is interested but the media are not, then I would hope that a barrage of emails to the editors for every edition in which David Davis or his campaign does NOT feature might suffice.

Dave B

Highlight past statements defending civil liberties made by members of the Labour cabinet earlier in their careers, which directly contradict their actions in government.

If you release one every day, then presumably the politician in question would have to respond.

Andrew Spencer

The best way for DD to keep it in the news and for the Conservative Party to turn this to their advantage is to link the issue with that of the Lisbon Treaty and Brown's reluctance to face the voters.

If Brown continues with ratification of Lisbon and refuses to put a candidate up in Haltemprice and Howden the line has to be that Gordon Brown is too frightened to face the judgement of voters on the decisions he has made. He had the chance to defend the EU constitution/Lisbon Treaty (which most people oppose) and he bottled it and he had the chance to defend 42 days (which most people support) and he bottled that too. Whichever way you cut it, therfore, Brown is a coward.

This fits in with a long established narrative of Brown's fear of elections (Granita, Labour leadership election, Lisbon referendum, election that never was) and allows Davis and Cameron to present themselves as the champions of democratic debate.

adrian drummond

I would choose Magna Carta as my theme. I'd be putting back on my SAS boots and rucksack (assume the weather will be fine!!) and do a trek through my constituency stopping off at village halls and debating with Government minsters on the issue of Freedom & Liberty. Any minister not appearing gets the empty chair treatment.

There will be a shortage of political stories during the parliamentary recess so the vacumm can be filled by David Davis.

Nicholas

Organise the biggest Freedom March on parliament ever seen. It should be possible to make it a march with every group passionate about civil rights, British freedoms, against the European super state and every societal group victimised or disadvantaged by New Labour and Brown.

With its laudable conservatism and belief in our cultural and political heritage the Speccie should get behind DD on this one.

I've never participated in a march in my life. But I would participate in that one.

Perry

A bit OT James, but I should like to write something before I pack up, -

It has been said elsewhere, but it bears repeat : namely, ‘Westminster Village’ is NOT the UK people at large. And certainly not people out in the real world, and especially out in the countryside away from the frills and frippery of the metros.

DD has the opportunity to actually say and do something now, - daring, controversial, - bloody-minded if he likes. And I don’t doubt many folk of a certain age and temperament would welcome that. ANYTHING but listen to the anodyne ‘Heir to Bliar’ twaddle or the weird Stalinist creep pontificating from what passes as the seat of ‘democratic’ Government.

So let him have his moment. Some good may come of it. And if it unwittingly puts a squib up the jacksy of DC, then so much the better.

I muse on what the Great Man, now at his rest, would say.

TomTom

Move the By-Election for the autumn just before the Conservative or Labour Conference....then Davis can address fringe meetings and let the platform do its own thing.

By autumn things in this country are going to be such a mess that Davis may be doing his Colombey-les-deux-Eglises stunt at the right time

Tiberius

THe modern equivalent of chaining yourself to the railings is to hire a savvy media manager. There's a bloke named Campbell looking for work, I hear...

Max Kaye

I second Andrew Spencer's approach as it happens to also be consistent with the manner that Brown and Nu Labour are perceived by the public at large (which includes me). I'll settle for a glass (of Pol Roger surely) or a T-shirt ;-)

Herbert Thornton

The one situation guaranteed to keep this in the news would be having just two candidates to fill the vacated seat.

One candidate would campaign on the belief that Britain must hold a referendum on Europe.

The other would maintain that there should not be a referendum.

I think that would excite the entire country. Everybody would be agog to see which would win.

ChrisD

Simple invite the whole Shadow Cabinet down for a visit to help him campaign, and also some other interesting individuals who oppose these draconian measure from all sides of the political spectrum. You provide an interesting angle to the story that will get the media coverage.
Add in the angle that Labour, and in particular our PM, are too scared to campaign to defend their draconian laws in a real election.
I love the idea of putting up a tub of lard, empty chair or a cut out of Gordon Brown to highlight this.
If they don't stand a candidate, they really don't have a valid position on the issue during the campaign and it blunts any attempts to undermine David Davis on this issue.
Maybe a message along the lines of Labour like to play at being tough on terrorism in the media, but they are too scared to fight a real election on the issue?

Richard

Should the Labour party fail to put up a candidate, Davis should get someone articulate who is in favour of 42 days to stand as a surrogate Labour candidate (not a Sun-sponsored circus, please) and try to turn the election into a serious referendum. Regular debates could be set up under the auspices of an independent debating society using serious speakers from both sides of the argument.

To meet the test he has set himself, Davis should encourage the electorate to vote either for him or for the surrogate on the basis of the single issue. A clear and fair Yes/No distinction would hopefully cut out the Monster Raving Loonies etc. Who knows, it might even turn into a celebration of both participatory and local democracy.

If Murdoch wants to make a serious contribution, he could run the debates on Sky News using a Question Time format and get someone respected (such as Adam Boulton) to act as moderator.

Jennie

I don't know how DD keeps the story in the news, short of streaking around his constituency every few days.

But, I'd like to pick up Scott's point. I think that the Labour Part's not fielding a candidate is shortsightedness rather than cowardice. With no Lib Dem candidate, Labour might pick up sufficient votes to win the seat. Especially if a lot of voters were to decide that DD is a timewaster.

Rolf Norfolk

From the street, it seems to me that DD grows in honour as his critics grow more scornful. Cameron's band is making the mistake of looking as though it prefers to belong to a cross-party, insular Westminster clique. Blue water, please.

Steve Garner

Jennie, I take it that you are not too familiar with the constituency. Trust me, there is more chance of Brown calling a general election next week than there is of Labour winning this by election.

TGF UKIP

Some great ideas so far and as Campbell and DD are supposed to be long term buddies (neither take hostages) you might very well have something in that thought Tiberius.

Can I also point out that as it would appear that DD will not be getting financial support from The Tory Party, funds are also going to be needed.

While DD is obviously not a poor man he is not related to the Queen (unless there be a pearly queen somewhere) and he is certainly not rolling in inherited wealth. I have been surprised at the degree and intensity of the support he has received from many Coffee Housers on this website and would hope that some of that support might become financial as well.

My cheque with letter of support is certainly going off and given the confusion of names and MPs I am sending it direct to DD at
Haltemprice & Howden Conservative Association, 32, Main Street, Willerby, E. Yorks HU10 6BU.

On the other hand, James, are you thinking of organizing a Coffee House whip round for THE CAUSE?

Huw Thornton

The only way I can think of is a hunger strike - that was the threat (by Gwynfor Evans) which caused on of the few U-turns by Margaret Thatcher's government in its early years. Either that or imprisoning himself in a prominent place for 42 days - in the way which David Blaine did in London some years ago.

A stunt? Sure. But DD may want to follow an unprecedented announcement with an unprecendented campaign.

Laughing Larry

He should do his campaign in the nude.

He should move into the Big Brother house to discuss what being banged up means.

He should go to the Priory for 42 days and do some group therapy.

He should release a Techno cut called 42 and promote it in Ibiza.

Kevyn Bodman

Keep it in the news by shifting the focus every couple of days.

It is NOT just 42 days, as you very well know so why does your second paragraph imply that it is? And it's 42 days WITHOUT CHARGE but you choose not to say that.
And that's the paragraph that comes 'above the fold' isn't it?

It's only in your 3rd paragraph that you go on to 'the slow strangulation', but you know Davis enumerated some of the encroachments on our freedom, don't you?
So why the distorting journalese? CoffeeHousers know the truth, of course. But there's still a need to keep the truth in public view.

Now, that's my anger with your distorting journalese out of the way.

Davis should talk about 42 days detention without charge for a couple of days.
Then the fact that the ID scheme is not just about ID, it's a huge database and ID valdated actions are recorded.
Then the DNA database.
Then double jeopardy.
Then the illegality of reading out names of war dead at the Cenotaph, and other evil restrictions on free demonstrations.

Bring in other prominent people from inside and outside politics.
I saw Martin Bell on SKYNEWS saying he had offered support to DD.
A photo with the shadow cabinet.
Employ a PR man to get him on the TV, radio and newspaper columns: 'Today','Jeremy Vine',
'The Daily Politics' 'Richard and Judy'.

There are many good ideas in the comments above mine.
And I'm sure Davis will use some of these and others of his own.

And I'm still angry at the way you distort it by talking about '42 days.'

This is an issue of the gravest importance; The Spectator should be right behind Davis, loudly and visibly.
I will be very interested to read the magazine in the next few weeks.

James

A documentary - like inconvenient truth - based on a slide show from David Davis.

All he needs to do is find members of the British public that have been detained for a number of days and then released and show how it effected their lives. A mixture of white, black and muslim examples would be helpful. If they were subsequently smeared untruthfully by the security services for other crimes such as child pornographt - without a shred of evidence - then even better.

The task David Davis has to take on - is to adequately explain to the general public (and in particular the sun readership) - that we need more protection from the state than we do from terrorists.

If he gets it right - it will be utterly compelling. The Westminster Village would then truly take notice.

James

A documentary - like inconvenient truth - based on a slide show from David Davis.

All he needs to do is find members of the British public that have been detained for a number of days and then released and show how it effected their lives. A mixture of white, black and muslim examples would be helpful. If they were subsequently smeared untruthfully by the security services for other crimes such as child pornographt - without a shred of evidence - then even better.

The task David Davis has to take on - is to adequately explain to the general public (and in particular the sun readership) - that we need more protection from the state than we do from terrorists.

If he gets it right - it will be utterly compelling. The Westminster Village would then truly take notice.

Ray

DD should mount a rolling 'liberty campaign', commencing with the way local councils are abusing RIPA powers by spying of bin fillers, as well as the erosion of our liberties by central government through 42-day detention, hate crime legislation and ID cards, as well as by-passing Parliament via the Legislative and Regulatory Reform Act.

It should then culminate in an final week of debate about the gravest threat to this country's liberty since Hitler's panzer columns lined up along the Pas de Calais: the Euopean Union. A monstruous construct that seldom seeks to consult the European people about its true federalising mission; and even when it does (and, like the Irish, those people say 'no') simply ignores the result and carries on regardless anyway.

Augustus

"Story of the summer", you say, bottle of bubbly.

Hmm, simple; let DD use every opportunity at his disposal to hammer away at the need for a General Election, soon and well before May 2010. Bound to hold the media's attention on the home front.

Anthony Kenny

This is a baloney issue. The man is making an important point. Why trivialise it? Grow up!

Perry

BUT SUPPOSE THERE IS NO Noo-Lie-Bore candidate?

How about the solution that HIGNIFY used when the guy who squelches everywhere refused to turn up? They put a tub of Lard in his place.

There must be a suitable object or substance that could be used as a signifier of the Beloved & Supreme Leader + Mz. Pru.

TGF UKIP

Just a further thought to my previous post. It is going to be a low rent campaign with no Tory Central Office financial support so get your hands in your pockets chaps but let's think like New Labour.

For DD's publicity purposes a £50 contribution is better made via 10 cheques of £5 and letters of support than one cheque and one letter.

If this is got right the media will have to listen and cover - it could just be a political landmark. So come on dig deep chaps and chapesses -

David Davis MP
Haltemprice & Howden Conservative Association
32 Main Street,
Willerby
E. Yorks HU10 6BU

Drew

How about a Haltemprice Freedom March to London, like the Jarrow Hunger March?

A three-week campaign would quite neatly match the 22 legs from Jarrow to London, and should prick more than a few left-wing consciences en route.

The point, as for those sad, brave men of 1936, is that those on the way South provide support and lodgings to the marchers.

(and then, in a neat symmetry with Baldwin, Brown is "too busy" to see them on the eve of the by-election)

It's summer, colleges are out, rent-a-toff can surely man this up pretty smartish...(but they WILL have to march, not do 50 metres for the cameras then slide into mummy's 4x4)

Jennie

Steve Garner, I know that DD's constituency is a Tory/Lib Dem marginal and that DD had a majority of 5,000 at the last GE.

Much larger majorities than this have been overturned when the electorate has lost respect for the erstwhile favourite. If the Lib Dems were to stand, they'd walk it. With no Lib Dem, the protest vote could turn to Labour, were they to stand.

Without any credible opponents, DD probably will win. What will this prove?

Emma

Surely the whole point is he can't do it on his own. Maybe 'we' should try to keep it in the media spotlight rather than leaving it all up to him. Phone, email and write to your MP, MEP, councillor and Prime minister that you want a proper debate.

larry

it's obvious. he needs to become a martyr. he needs to break one of the stupid laws he is fighting against. he needs to commit a 'hate crime'.

carol42

Thanks for the address I will certainly make a small contribution. I love the idea going around to send a white feather to Gordon Brown, I am on the lookout for one to send. I wish the media would stop going on about just the 42 days, there are so many other areas involved as mentioned above.

Ruairidh

Take up a deckchair next to Brian Haw and start yelling souynd-bites through a megaphone at passersby and news crews whenever they try to interview MPs in the gardens around parliament.

Carl Gardner

I think he should set up a more or less permanent soapbox debate in the street in the constituency, in which he takes on all comers - any member of the public who wants to get up, or any cabinet minister or journalist who dares turn up. When he's not there himself he could be replaced by members of the public and public figures who support him. Anyome shoud be able to go to Howden, queue up and take part. The whole thing should be webcast live, and broadcasters should be free to carry it. The webcast should be on a website that allows members of the public to take part in the debate by uploading video files and commenting in forums.

Craig Strachan

He won't stay in the news, and that's probably for the best.

biggestaspidistra

Davis's story will be the story of the year. He will be the man of the year. He has seized the moment. Cameron may look glum but not because of his colleague's lunacy, but because we now know who in the conservative party has the spine.

PoliticiansStink

If Labour don't put up a candidate, DD should see if Rowan Atkinson (aka Mr Bean) would stand.
(Liked the earlier idea of sending a white feather to Brown; might just do that if I can find one.)

mitch

how about a toll of the names of the people who made Maga Carta happen and those who now oppose it.

Praguetory

This needs to be a jamboree for freedom. If he keeps his party affiliation out of the contest, he can do some incredible headline-grabbing stuff.

He should invite freedom-loving Left-wingers such as Tony Benn and Nick Cohen to campaign with him. A proxy Labour candidate should be put up. T-shirts saying Magna Carta 1208 - 2008? should be mass-produced and handed out to constituents.

AsLabour invoked 'popularity' as a justification for their measures, the target has got to be an exceptional turnout for DD. It can and will be done.

Praguetory

Stories like this will help keep this in the public eye.

John

"Could the Question Time producers be persuaded perhaps?"

Hardly. QT is part of the problem, not of the solution. QT, and the BBC as a whole, are MacLabour groupies. Remember Dumbleby and Millipede conferring together recently, and the eternal cutting off of anyone criticising the government, and the party mob masquerading as a 'cross-section' of the population?

John

Anthony Kenny, do get a life.

Ann

"If the Lib Dems were to stand, they'd walk it"

Look up 'hubris'.

Elizabeth

My cheque posted today.
Thanks for the details.
I shall also find a white feather - love it!!
Robin Hoods band!!
The lower and middle classes increasingly pushed into bonded corporate serfdom, no wonder Mr Murdoch doesn't like it.
The troughers feasting in the Westminster piggery suddenly see a threat to their privilege and greed. The people are actually being asked for an opinion not just a five yearly cross and neverending taxation.
Good!!
Lisbon and an English parliament next - please DD.
I think we English have had enough of Scots rule. I certainly have. Blair and Broon have almost destroyed my country, my traditions and my countryside.

Eddy

Davis has plenty of opportunities to make this a bit issue in the next month (and beyond).

It looks as though he's really thought this through and I expect that he's got a pretty good plan of action.

There's no shortage of issues to debate. If there is a Labour candidate then the debate will be key - and Davis can roll out a few celebrities to back him (he mentioed Col Tim Collins on TV this morning).

If there is no Labour candidate then he will have to do something more drastic - like a march or a protest. He can't really do any stunts because this will play into Labour's hands. He'll just have to produce a slow and steady trickle of events - debates, celebrity/"rival" endorsements.

If the MSM ignore this then he will just have to get a pretty good website up and running, a place where the amount of support (financial and intellectual) can be recorded.

Roger

If Labour refuse to put someone forward for this election, I would make absolutely sure that every debate and discussion on liberty would include an empty chair with a small 'Labour Candidate' sign on it. This would send a very power message (and appeal to the media).

Davis also needs a develop an intellectually sound, yet simple theme that focuses on Brown's own severely limited, damaged view of himself. Davis could easily point out that 'courage' is proved by defending liberty NOT attacking it... choosing liberty as your enemy is 'cowardice'.

oldtimer

I think the term "Westminster village" is a misnomer. It should be the "Westminster ivory tower" - a place populated by inward looking, navel gazers.

What DD needs to do is to get them up to parapet and to look at the world around them as it is, and not through the wrong end of a telescope.

To this end I suggest he lists, with examples, the many infringements on our personal liberties that have been legislated by this Labour government (100 sounds a nice round number for this to set alongside the many stealth taxes imposed). This should be supported by practical examples of the injustices thereby inflicted on citizens of this country. That is the platform he is standing on, so that is the platform he should fight it on.

If the Conservative party had any sense they would support him on this. Failing that I expect there will be some MPs from the other parties willing to help out.

It is not a problem for DD if Labour fails to put up a candidate. His challenge then is one of turnout - if people really do care then they will vote, if they cannot be bothered then they won`t. It will tell us a lot about the electorate in 2008.

Jennie

Ann, I'd say that hubris does not apply here - because, of course, we'll never know one way or the other.

Fergus Pickering

Davud Davis is God walking on earth. I am sure He knows, as some of you may not, that this relates to a quotation of Bismarck.

Hugh

DD - interview members of the Upper House publicly, there are plenty to keep it going, and it might stiffen a few spines too.

Diversity

Adding extra summery enjoyment, I suggest:
Week 1 - a mock Habeus Corpus plea (Courts are very televisual) insisting that Gordon Brown release and unshackle the missing Labour candidate.

Week 2 - if possible get Boris Johnson to come and campaign (free of minders) in Haltemprice & Howden.

Week 3 - organise a mass singing of Rule Britannia in Trafalgar Square an evening or two before the poll, with the emphasis on "never, never shall be slaves" of course. If there is a freedom march from Hull to London, this could be its culmination.

cuffleyburgers

Freedom march.

Diversity

Missed something obvious above there:

Week 2 - if possible get Bris Johnson and Ken Livingstone and Brian Paddick ("there is a real policeman backing me") to campaign (free of minders) in Haltemprice & Howden.

Week 3 - as above, adding (A special celebration of Britishness to delight Gordon Brown.)