Britannist

Breaking news at 2.30 pm: David Davis MP, the Shadow Home Secretary, has just annouced that he is to resign from the House of Commons in protest at the Government's legislation on 42 days' detention.

Mr. Davis will now fight a By-Election in his Haltemprice and Howden constituency in Yorkshire. The Conservatives won the last Parliamentary Election held last month at Crewe-Nantwich, where Labour lost a seat they had held for decades.

David Davis got the second highest vote in the last Conservative Party leadership contest.

Sky Television News said at 2.30 pm that Mr. Davis says that he will fight the By-Election opposing the "slow strangulation of fundamental British freedoms our fundamental liberties by this Government."

Mr. Davis has also resigned as Shadow Home Secretary but one bookmakers has him as favourite to get the job back if he wins the By-Election.

Simon Hughes told Sky News at 2.38 pm that his party - the Liberal 'Democrats' - would not contest the By-Election. His party - like the Conservatives - voted against the Government legislation on 42 days' detention yesterday. The Government won by 9 votes.

Some people are "gobsmacked" at the news of Mr. Davis resigning Adam Boulton, political reporter, said on Sky News at 2.38 pm

The Conservative majority at the last General Election at Haltemprice and Howden was 5 ,116.

Result at Haltemprice and Howeden at the last General Election:

Haltemprice and Howden | Aristotle | guardian.co.uk Politics

Britannist

Sorry - just realised that another thread on this subject already exists in this section of the forum.

Britannist

David Cameron told Sky News at 3.05 pm today "David Davis made a brave decision to resign his seat - but it is a personal decision. All of us wish David well in the By-Election. All Conservatives, including me, will go up to Haltemprice-Howden to campaign for him. He agrees that Dominic Grieve MP is a good choice as his replacement."

Senior Conservatives denied that there had been a row political reporter John Craig just said on Sky News (at 3.08 pm).

69% of the British public support 42 days' detention according to an opinion poll in the Daily Telegraph earlier this week, Mr. Craig said. He added "The favourite day for the By-Election at Haltemprice-Howden is 10th July." Mr. Craig also said.

He also stated "There are some who think there was a row (in the Conservative Party leadership) before this bizarre decision to call a By-Election".

mrabody

The Lib Dems aren't going to stand a candidate which throws the doors wide open for the smaller parties to achieve a good result.

Britannist

It remains to be seen if Labour and other parties contest the Haltemprice-Howden Parliamentary By-Election.

Britannist

EU Referendum reports today that "There, incidentally, are strong rumours of another - less high profile - resignation from the Tory front benches":

EU Referendum: David Davis resigns

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EU Referendum also comments today (please see the report on the link given in the last posting to this thread): "Our initial response is that it is marvellously admirable that an MP is finally prepared to stand up on a point of principle. Are we to see MPs resigning over the EU and the ramming through of the constitutional Lisbon treaty without a referendum? The great regret is that this resignation will drive EU issues even further down the news agenda."

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