Tory anger mounts over Davis resignation

Jun 13 2008 Liverpool Daily Post

THE shock resignation of David Davis to fight a “Magna Carta by-election” appeared to have backfired last night when furious Tories warned it had taken the heat off Gordon Brown.

The shadow Home Secretary stunned Westminster by resigning both his post and as an MP.

In an emotional speech, Mr Davis warned the “monstrosity” of 42-day detention without charge for terror suspects – approved by MPs on Wednesday – was just part of Labour’s assault on civil liberties.

Pointing to identity cards, CCTV cameras, the DNA database, bans on protests and curbs on jury trials, he said: “This cannot go on, it must be stopped. I feel that, today, it’s incumbent on me to take a stand.”

Mr Davis noted that this Sunday was the anniversary of Magna Carta – the 1215 document, signed by King John, that “guarantees that most fundamental of British freedoms”.

And, announcing he would quit to fight a by-election to be held on July 10, he added: “I will argue this by-election against the slow strangulation of fundamental British freedoms.”

But many Tories were angry that 59-year-old Mr Davis had created a diversion from Gordon Brown’s troubles.

Just hours before the bombshell was dropped, the Prime Minister was having to deny that only “pork-barrel politics” – lucrative promises to Democratic Unionist MPs – had won the 42-day vote.

The Conservatives want to take the fight to Mr Brown on issues such as soaring food, fuel and mortgage prices.

Worried Labour MPs, meanwhile, console themselves that the public is on their side on the issue of tougher terror laws.

There was criticism that Mr Davis had fallen under the spell of civil liberties campaigners , such as Shami Chakrabarti, the director of Liberty, who praised his “courage and conviction”.

One angry Conservative MP said: “I think the Davis ego-button has been pressed”.

The reaction on many media and political websites was more positive, with praise for Mr Davis for a “brave and highly principled move”, which would “restore public faith in politicians”.

But Tory leader David Cameron, who was not consulted by Mr Davis, made his unhappiness clear at what he called a “personal” decision, stating the Tories would not fund the campaign.

Mr Cameron described the move as “courageous” – a word, it was quickly noted, used by Sir Humphrey, in the BBC sitcom Yes Minister, to describe any rash and foolish decision.

The resignation leaves a big hole in the Conservative front bench, where Mr Davis was one of the few well-known faces in the Tory team.

Mr Davis is almost certain to win after the Liberal Democrats – the main contenders in his Haltemprice and Howden seat – immediately announced they would not put up a candidate.

Labour, which condemned the resignation as a “silly stunt”, is also widely expected to pull out – leaving Mr Davis fighting fringe parties such as UKIP, the BNP, or Beauties For Britain.

Communities Secretary Hazel Blears said: “The Tories are plainly in disarray and confusion over the serious issue of national security.

“Behind Cameron’s facade are the same old Tories fighting like ferrets in a sack. This forced by-election is a farce – and an insult to the voters.”

Mr Cameron moved quickly to replace Mr Davis with Dominic Grieve, the shadow attorney general – suggesting Mr Davis will return to Westminster in a more junior post.