And the winner is...
James Forsyth 7:20pm
We got lots of good responses to our request for ideas as to how David Davis can keep his cause in the news. The champagne goes to a Coffee Houser called James for his suggestion of an Inconvenient Truth-style documentary; it has already caught the eye of one Tory staffer. But I’d also like to give a honourable mentions to Drew for his suggestion of a Haltemprice Freedom March echoing the Jarrow Crusade.
James and Drew, if you post your addresses in the comments—we won’t publish them—we’ll pop your prizes in the post. Many thanks to everyone who took part, the suggestions by James and Drew are reprinted in full below:
James
June 14th, 2008 6:35pm
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.
Drew
June 14th, 2008 8:37pm
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)
Previous
Comments
Disillusioned and Bored
June 16th, 2008 8:36pmJust a thought, but what do you think the cost was of Prince William's appointment to the Royal Knight of the Garter today? Given the pomp and ceremony, I'd have thought it was more than the £80,000 that will be spent on the by-election. It's an interesting comparison that would certainly play to those on the Left who are wondering whether to support Davis.
Drew
June 16th, 2008 8:43pmI think I'll skip the prize, thanks.
Max Kaye
June 16th, 2008 9:47pmWell done James! (the winner).
James F: do get the idea moving - or at least get the attention of someone bright at Team Davis.
DW
June 16th, 2008 10:18pmBut all this could still have been done had he kept his position as MP/Shadow Home secretary. He doesn't have to force a by election to draw attention to the civil liberties arguments.
Ironically, by forcing a by election, he might find his views lose their full impact by having to be broadcast alongside the views of his rivals in the by election.
prziloczek
June 17th, 2008 7:24amI think that james' idea is simply excellent. I just wish i had some people up my sleeve - hey wait a minute - there's an excellent example, now I come to think of it on John Redwood's blog under David Davis.
prziloczek
June 17th, 2008 7:30amNigel Palmer:
http://www.johnredwoodsdiary.com/2008/06/12/david-davis-what-a-stand/#comment-21494
C Powell
June 17th, 2008 7:50amAccording to yesterday's Evening Standard, some elderly people at the Trooping of the Colour were threatened with arrest for wearing T-shirts with slogans on them. They were "inflammatory clothes". We have become so innured to this sort of nonsense that we no longer see how appalling it really is.
Fergus Pickering
June 17th, 2008 10:13amWhat were the slogans on the inglammatory Tee shirts? Would 'Brown is a wanker' be inflammatory? What about 'All things considered I think I am against the European Union in its present form'?
Nicholas
June 17th, 2008 11:01amIt is just a great pity that DC and the whole Conservative party are not taking this stand. They really have lost the plot on this.
DD Fan
June 18th, 2008 7:51amThere already is a documentary:
http://www.noliberties.com/