David Davis, the Shadow Home Secretary, has just resigned his seat in Parliament in order to fight the by-election on the issue of Civil Liberties. Davis is a good man, I voted for him in the 2005 leadership contest and I am pleased to see that he is willing to stand up and say a categorical no to the stance which the Government is taking on Civil Liberties.
The only issue is whether Davis cleared this with D.C. prior to his resignation. I didn’t see the start of the statement so I don’t know whether he did or did not. If he did not. as Nick Robinson said, it could lead to souring of relations between the two. This would be something which nobody in the party would want.
Sorry Dan, but I completely disagree. Just what the hell does Davis think he is going to accomplish by splitting up our front bench? This pointless gesture detracts from the emphasis that should be on Labour at the moment – he, as Shadow Home Secretary, should be tearing the government to peices over the deal with the Irish, and he should continue to contest the legislation IN THE HOUSE – exactly where is ought to be contested.
This stunt is a catastrophe for Conservatives – and a miracle for Labour. I actually want him to loose the by-election, then we can be rid of him, and get on with minimising the damage this has done.
Sweet Jesus! What is the point? You and I, and everyone else, have worked so hard for so fucking long to make our party ready for government again. I am seriously considering going to Haltemprice to campaign for anyone who stands against him. He’s making his position and our party into a national joke.
I understand your point to a degree David, looking at it in purely the short term. But I do believe that D.D. must stand for his basic principles. I am very sad to see the party replace him so quickly as Shadow Home Secretary, I really wish he could have stayed in the post as he would make a spectacular Home Secretary when we come to power. I would disagree with you on the point of it being a miracle for Labour, Davis has gone out to fight for the issues, you, I and most other British people hold dear, we need to register this point by registering our support for him. This is not a vanity trip, it is a point of principle and I know many people on the other side of the political divide saying “Thankyou Mr Davis” because he is standing up for the ideas of Habeas Corpus, he is willing to put his neck on the line. People will remember what Labour have done with their civil liberties come the general election, and they will remember it all the better now because Davis has had the balls to put everything on the line for it. Remember, there is no guarantee he will get back into the front bench, he has effectively gambled EVERYTHING he has spent his life working for on a point which he values higher than his job. We should praise, not berate his actions.
Mr Cameron is not to be trusted.
He has failed to mobilize the party and broader electorate to defend themselves from the emerging EU dictatorship, and one can only conclude that this is because he is a collaborator.
Mr Davis will return to the house with a strong mandate from the electorate that this is not going to be tolerated by the British people any more, and as such, he will be in a position to challenge Mr Cameron for the leadership.
The Conservative party needs to break decisively with its Europhile past and fight for our national sovereignty via a clean, negotiated exit from the EU.
Ryan, I really hope he does not. This is not about the leadership of the party. It is about the freedom of the people of Britain.
Ryan, I don’t think the election of a man, almost unopposed, by a very small percentage of the electorate on a single issue is grounds for a leadership contest.
Cameron has now grown into a competent and respected leader – about the only thing that could spoil our chances of winning an election is a messy leaderhip contest at this late stage.
Dan, perhaps you’re right – maybe I’ve launched into him a bit too much. But I still think he could have made a more useful protest in the House, and not caused a lot of embarassment for the party. If he wins, which looks likely, then it will appear as if the rest of the Tory party don’t care as much, and if he looses it’ll reflect badly on us for loosing a relatively safe seat and a prominent MP.