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Davis quits in protest over terror laws
A leading British opposition politician suddenly quit on Thursday to force an election which will keep the pressure on Prime Minister Gordon Brown over his plans to toughen terrorism laws.
- Reuters
- Published: 00:03 June 13, 2008
- British Prime Minister Gordon Brown answers a reporter's question on the close win for his terrorism detention proposals during his monthly news conference at his official residence at 10 Downing Street, London, on Thursday.
- Image Credit: AP
London: A leading British opposition politician suddenly quit on Thursday to force an election which will keep the pressure on Prime Minister Gordon Brown over his plans to toughen terrorism laws.
David Davis, the Conservatives' spokesman on home affairs, resigned his parliamentary seat to stand again, promising to argue against what he called "the slow strangulation of fundamental British freedoms by this government."
The move, a personal decision not sanctioned in advance by the Conservative leadership, effectively makes the vote in his constituency a referendum on Brown's planned security measures.
Brown, his popularity at record lows in opinion polls, won a parliamentary vote on Wednesday with a majority reduced from 65 to just nine.
He had to rely on Northern Irish lawmakers to secure victory and offered concessions to rebels in his governing Labour Party, but 36 Labour lawmakers still voted against the measure.
The slim majority is unlikely to reassure Labour members of parliament about his suitability to lead them into the next parliamentary election 2010.
Tough time
A Labour lawmaker said Brown would face a tough time when the upper chamber meets, probably before the end of July, to debate his plan to extend the time terrorism suspects can be held from 28 days to 42.
The House of Lords can stall legislation but cannot prevent it from becoming law. However its opposition could drag on the process for months.
Labour did badly in local council elections and lost a parliamentary seat to the opposition Conservative Party in May. Brown is also grappling with an economic slowdown, rising inflation and anxiety over a housing market slump.
One opinion poll this week showed a majority of Britons back extending the pre-charge detention time limit to 42 days.
Home Office Minister Tony McNulty said Wednesday "was a squeaky day all round" but vowed to ensure the legislation is not watered down.
"I don't think this marks the beginning of the end or whatever else for the prime minister," he said.
Human rights organisations and opposition politicians have condemned the measure
In an embarrassing incident for the government, the BBC said on Wednesday a top intelligence official had left a file with secret documents about Iraq and Al Qaida on a train.
A passenger found the orange folder and handed it in to the BBC, which said it contained top secret documents on Iraq and Al Qaida. The official has been suspended.
resignation
Key Tory member
- He was born in December 1948 in York and moved to south London where he attended Tooting Bec grammar school.
- He first worked as an insurance clerk and later spent 17 years with Tate and Lyle company.
- He was first elected to parliament in the 1987 general election and represents what became the constituency of Haltemprice and Howden, north of the Humber.
- In September 2001 he was appointed Conservative Party Chairman and became shadow Home Secretary in November 2003.
- Davis was beaten by David Cameron in the 2005 Conservative leadership election contest.
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