David Davies

[webofevil]

It’s hard to escape the news today that Shadow Home Sec David Davis is throwing down a big fake gauntlet by resigning and recontesting a perfectly safe Tory seat. I’d love to see the government call this for the stunt it is and not run a candidate against him. His hollow victory would help to erode the idea that his move was for the good of the nation rather than specifically for the greater glory of David Davis. They won’t do that, of course. Brown, with the keen political instincts he has demonstrated over the past year, has arbitrarily chosen to make this his big battleground and he has shown that he is willing to sacrifice anything—principle, conscience, other legislation—to win. Meanwhile, ever more surreally, the Tories now get to paint themselves not only as champions of the poor but as defenders of the liberties of suspected terrorists. How did we get here, exactly?

Comments

[strictlytrue.livejournal.com]

Sorry, I meant "exactly what Davis wants them to do". When does the time limit expire on editing posts then?

[srk1.livejournal.com]

I think we have to think of Davis and the Tories as two separate entities. The noises they are making suggest this is an individual stunt, rather than a party stunt.

So the question is not what Davis wants them to do, as he isn't very important, but what the Tories want them to do.

The Tories will claim 'ownership' of the by-election if it is a thumping win over a Labour opponent, and sweep it (and Davis) under the carpet if it is a massive win over a handful of fringe nutcases. The third option is to back a quasi-independent, Martin Bell-style. But this isn't 1997 and David Davis isn't Neil Hamilton, so I think a tactical withdrawal is the best option. You never know, it might turn out to be a game-changer, the way the aborted election was a game-changer last year.

[carsmilesteve.livejournal.com]

ha, i thought he'd resigned to stand in henley for a moment there.

this is complete mentalism surely? why would they even waste £1500 (or however much it is these days) to put a candidate up???

[carsmilesteve.livejournal.com]

also note to self:

don't read the comments on the nick robinson blog, you'll only want to break your monitor/eyes...

[ruudboy.livejournal.com]

When someone replies to it.