Most politicians live with one constant fear, that of loosing their seat of power. In a democracy, real power is in the hands of the people, and what they give they can just as easily take away. It is thus unheard of for most politicians to willingly jeopardise their hold onto the seat of power.
David Davis can be described in no other terms then being a heavy weight in British politics and in particular within the Conservative Party ranks. An English Member of Parliament since 1987, he has served in a number of high profile positions including that of Minister of State at the Foreign and Commonwealth Office. Davis also served as Government Whip at the time that the UK Parliament was discussing the ratification of the Maastricht Treaty, which then Prime Minister John Major had considered to be a vote of confidence in his government.
Back on the Opposition benches, Davis served as Chairman of the House of Commons Public Accounts Committee, as well as shadow Secretary of State for the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister. For the past five years, Davis was the Shadow Home Secretary. At Party level, in 2001 Davis was appointed Chairman of the Conservative Party. He unsuccessfully contested the 2001 and 2005 elections for Leader of the Conservative Party.
Thus, when a politician of the profile of David Davis puts his political life on the line, one needs to take note. Yesterday, 12th June, Davis resigned his parliamentary seat on a point of principle. By so doing, David Davis has shown that he is no ordinary politician.
The point of contention sparking off this extraordinary move was the enactment by the British Parliament of an act which allows police to hold terror suspects without charge for up to 42 days. According to Davis, this move sets a very dangerous precedent and which clearly erodes the fundamental liberties so dear to the English people. Indeed, in his resignation speech Davis clearly attacked the 'relentless erosion of fundamental British freedoms.'
Davis decision to resign will force, in terms of UK electoral law, a bye-election in his constituency. Davis plans to put forward his name once again for the seat, and is openly challenging the British Labour Party to contest him, claiming that if Labour fails to field a candidate it would be a clear sign that it is ashamed of its own policy and unwilling to take it to the people for judgement. In this way, Davis is turning the bye-election into a mini-referendum on this new law, in the clear attempt to put into serious doubt the legitimacy of Gordon Brown's hold on power.
Davis's move, which has been describes as being 'courageous' by the Conservative Party leader David Cameron, is without precedent. Whatever the outcome, it will inevitably effect the future of Gordon Brown's government.
David Davis can be described in no other terms then being a heavy weight in British politics and in particular within the Conservative Party ranks. An English Member of Parliament since 1987, he has served in a number of high profile positions including that of Minister of State at the Foreign and Commonwealth Office. Davis also served as Government Whip at the time that the UK Parliament was discussing the ratification of the Maastricht Treaty, which then Prime Minister John Major had considered to be a vote of confidence in his government.
Back on the Opposition benches, Davis served as Chairman of the House of Commons Public Accounts Committee, as well as shadow Secretary of State for the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister. For the past five years, Davis was the Shadow Home Secretary. At Party level, in 2001 Davis was appointed Chairman of the Conservative Party. He unsuccessfully contested the 2001 and 2005 elections for Leader of the Conservative Party.
Thus, when a politician of the profile of David Davis puts his political life on the line, one needs to take note. Yesterday, 12th June, Davis resigned his parliamentary seat on a point of principle. By so doing, David Davis has shown that he is no ordinary politician.
The point of contention sparking off this extraordinary move was the enactment by the British Parliament of an act which allows police to hold terror suspects without charge for up to 42 days. According to Davis, this move sets a very dangerous precedent and which clearly erodes the fundamental liberties so dear to the English people. Indeed, in his resignation speech Davis clearly attacked the 'relentless erosion of fundamental British freedoms.'
Davis decision to resign will force, in terms of UK electoral law, a bye-election in his constituency. Davis plans to put forward his name once again for the seat, and is openly challenging the British Labour Party to contest him, claiming that if Labour fails to field a candidate it would be a clear sign that it is ashamed of its own policy and unwilling to take it to the people for judgement. In this way, Davis is turning the bye-election into a mini-referendum on this new law, in the clear attempt to put into serious doubt the legitimacy of Gordon Brown's hold on power.
Davis's move, which has been describes as being 'courageous' by the Conservative Party leader David Cameron, is without precedent. Whatever the outcome, it will inevitably effect the future of Gordon Brown's government.
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I suppose there are different ways of looking at this Keith, but David Davis is known to seek the limelight and this may well be just a stunt. He knows his Yorkshire seat is safe (being located in the affluent parts of Yorkshire). In fairness, he's extended his "campaign" to include the erosion of civil liberties generally, but that's partly because I think a lot of Brits - including his constituents - can't understand what the fuss is all about. (The 42-day rule actually has a number of judicial and parliamentary checks which will make it difficult to detain someone for that length of time anyway.)
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