oldfogey

BBC NEWS | Politics | David Davis resigns from Commons

Conservative (Shadow) Home Secretary is resigning as an MP to campaign against the restriction of fundamental freedoms in the UK after a recent vote in the House of Commons approved an increase to 42 days detention without trial for suspected terrorists.

__________________
A government big enough to give you everything you want is a government big enough to take from you everything you have - Gerald R. Ford

CBRVFR

I am jet lagged, but I'm having trouble following along - maybe I don't understand some of the terminology here -

What's a by-election, and what's a shadow Home Secretary?

He's resigning as an MP for what seems like a reason of conscience, and the opposition party, which is more liberal, is supportive of the decision but critical of him generally?

If he's resigning this elected position, what will he be running for? Will he stay within the Conservative party?

__________________
"...the TV also never took away the screwdriver and shoved it up the repairman's ass."

Our own Mr.2nd Amendment, explaining the difference. Perfectly.

Rich Herald, the Gentle Giant

oldfogey

A by-election is when a member of parliament resigns and there's an election on a one-off basis between general elections.

The shadow Home Secretary is the opposition party's spokesman for matters dealt with by the Home Secretary (the government minister), also a member of parliament.

He's a member of the main opposition party. The third party, centrist, supports the stand against the 42 days' policy the government has just passed in parliament. Normally the Conservatives and Liberal Democrats are in hot competition in English suburban constituencies.

He will stand as an independent for this campaign for a single-issue election. The assumption would be that he rejoins the Conservative party for the next General Election campaign.

__________________
A government big enough to give you everything you want is a government big enough to take from you everything you have - Gerald R. Ford

CBRVFR

Will that approach generally give him legislative leverage to form a non-partisan coalition in Parliament to pursue the issue, or is this a way of drawing national and international attention to the issue? Will it enhance his standing among members of the Conservative party if he wants to stand for higher office, or will they regard him as a rebel? ( And we know how they feel aboout rebellion... oh, yes we do. )

__________________
"...the TV also never took away the screwdriver and shoved it up the repairman's ass."

Our own Mr.2nd Amendment, explaining the difference. Perfectly.

Rich Herald, the Gentle Giant

oldfogey

Reaction so far is mostly amazement, public support for an apparently principled stand, and something of the last man in the bar who wants to pick a fight and nobody takes them on.

I think he's trying to establish a position with the public, as a previous rival to Cameron in the leadership election of the Conservative party, that would allow him greater influence.

__________________
A government big enough to give you everything you want is a government big enough to take from you everything you have - Gerald R. Ford