It takes a lot to flabber my gast, but David Davis, the Shadow Home Secretary has just done it. I was driving home, and switched on the car radio, and there he was, making a passionate speech about the erosion of civil liberties. I was really enjoying hearing a reminder of why I've so long been an admirer and supporter of this man - when he suddenly announced that he was resigning as an MP, to fight an election on the issue of Britain being turned into a Police State. I was staggered.
Because of the way I've arranged my life, it's been difficult for me to become involved in by-election campaigns. But I will be with David as he fights a cause which I too believe in with a passion. The Telegraph may well report that 69% of the population agree with yesterday's vote to extend the period when an innocent person (until proven guilty) can be locked up - and to that can be added the power of the Sun. But David Davis was not prepared to stand by and watch the liberty which underpins our way of life being destroyed - doing the terrorists work for them. I've no idea how this decision will play out or be treated by the commentators, but I think it is a stunningly brave and principled decision.
16 comments:
It is excellent. To see David take a principled stand on an issue that he clearly feels strongly about is the best possible advert for the Conservative party. It just serves to highlight the stark contrast between the (ex)Shadow Home Secretary and the Home Secretary. After all, could you imagine Jacqui Smith resigning to fight a by election in support of 42 days? No, me neither..
Don't worry about the comments from certain Labour politicians. It just shows how out of touch they are with traditional Labour principles and how worried they are that the Tories could now tap into the anti Big Brother feeling that courses through the veins of every true Brit. Davis's move might be more in keeping with early 20th century than early 21st century polics but it is none the worse for that. Labour critics should remember that Lansbury resigned his seat to highlight the issue of votes for women in a byelection before the First World war. He lost but if half of the Labour politicians of today had the ideals of the great George Lansbury Britain would be a far better place and the labour party would have recovered its soul.
I was shocked when I heard the news. I watched the Politics Show last Sunday when David gave his views on the 42 days issue and he never gave the impression that what has happened today was going to happen. I'm glad that he has demonstrated his passion on the subject but wonder if the voters will do when the by election happens. I hope they do.
"But I will be with David as he fights a cause which I too believe in with a passion."
That's him down a few votes then!
arnie - I'm with you on this
john - I thought Denis Macshane, a deeply unprincipled politiian unpleasant in his comments on the BBC website.
gary - so do I. I have long been a great admirer of David.
Ken - its helpful to me if you give a reason for such a personal and negative comment - its easier for me to make a relevent response.
You come over all pompous, name dropping here there and every where that's why.
You go on and on about the bleeding assembly, on about more law making powers, sod the opinion polls, I am telling you the average person in Wales does NOT want more law making powers for this town council, type of glorified quango.
If it's so good Glyn, hang fire and try and get in there again, not the big boys school!
Ken - I blog about people and things that others may connect with. And I try and blog about what I know something about. And I blog because I enjoy writing. I also try not to cause any offence, and while I quite like people to visit and comment, I really cannot understand why anyone who has such a low opinion of the blog bothers to read it. I accept that I have opinions which others disagree with, but there's not much point in my writing that which I don't believe.
He is right though, isn't he? You do drop names and come over all pwysig. Why do you have to behave like that?
anon - I don't care for name droppers myself, or for people who come over all self important. In fact I don't listen to them, or read their blogs. I'd like to adjust my writing style to avoid such accusations against me. It would be helpful if you give me an example of a post where I inadvertantly gave this impression.
Glyn Davies "all pompous"? News to me. Glyn is one of those rare politicians who is not only the exact opposite of pompous, but is in fact down to earth and willing to voice opinions where many other politicians dare to tread. The only other politicians that I know of who are prepared to do the same are Peter Black and John Redwood - not that I am claming Peter Black and John Redwood are bed fellows - far from it, they are as far apart as blackcurrant and blackcurrant flavoured jams!
Your reference to dinner at the Carlton club was the most recent. It was sycophantic and snobbish.
anon - thanks. I've checked that post, and just don't accept what you say. If anything, it was rather self deprecating (desribing myself as 'a lesser being'). I genuinely couldn't see anything snobbish about it at all. The basis of my blog is as a personal internet diary, and to visit the Carlton Club (when it was in the news) was a very significant event. It was also interesting that you hads to go back almost 50 posts to find one that you didn't like. It seems to me that you are visiting my blog just to be unpleasant, and I cannot see any point in continuing this conversation.
£70k of public money on a by election, principles indeed. Perhaps the mre principled optin would be to offer tp pay for it himself?
the vote was won in parliament was it not? by one vote, after free and frank debate? the next government can chnage it, can they not? can it not be argued that the current length of time also actually effects civil liberties?
all very strange
Glyn, really don't give them the time of day. Its one thing to disagree with someone's views but if they dislike your style of writing and clearly find you personally irritating, why on earth are they reading the blog - masochism?
Although not a Tory - more like you Glyn - an independent free thinker....I say well done David Davis. I will be sending a fiver off to his campaign.
When politicos like Gordon Brown and the like try to create unity by looking for a common enemy..I think back to Germany and Russia of the 1930s.
Eric - The vote was won by nine votes, and David Davis probably believes that the Labour Government is forcing through legislation which a majority of MPs oppose, and that the issue is sufficiently important to him to take this step. The blame for the cost could just as easily be attributed to those who have behaved unreasonably and forced this decision.
Cath - Agreed, but I'm open to comments that criticase if they are based on some reasonable opinion.
anon - I hope that a lot of people will react as you do.
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