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Davies raises question of curtailed freedoms
The decision by Conservative (Tory) Shadow Home Secretary David Davis to resign from parliament was a needed shock to revive British politics.
- By Ahmad Mustafa, Special to Gulf News
- Published: 00:08 June 21, 2008
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42 days in or out?
42 days in or out?
The decision by Conservative (Tory) Shadow Home Secretary David Davis to resign from parliament, to fight against government plans to increase the time terrorism suspects can be held without charge, was a needed shock to revive British politics.
The Labour government won, with a slight majority, a Commons vote on extending the time of detention without charge for terror suspects to 42 days. Prime Minister Gordon Brown had to fight within his own Labour party to win rebel MPs who are against the law.
Tory party leader David Cameron stressed that David Davis's decision is personal and appointed a new shadow home secretary to his front-bench team. Liberal Democrats leader Nick Clegg, who also voted against 42 day detention, praised Davis's courageous decision and said that his party is not putting a candidate in a by-election in Davis's constituency of Haltemprice and Howden that he resigned to force it.
Of course the government is trying to portray Davis's move as a show-off that might hurt his party, but the public's reaction is totally different. Looking at e-mails and messages pouring in to media outlets like BBC and Sky News you see majority of the people are admiring David Davis's decision. And if his decision only helped to regain people's trust in politics as they see a leading politician putting his whole career on the line for a principle he believes in. That is more than enough.
At a time when people read everyday news stories about MPs twisting their expenses in a sleazy manner, and some politicians' reputation tarnished, it is really marvellous to hear the news of a passionate politician risking his career for a principle. Though some might be opportunistic to say that Davis's opposition to terror law is against the national security interests of the country, their argument is very weak. Yes the man has always held strong views on draconian laws that come at the expense of human rights, but the extension of detention is not a proven security necessity.
American measures
Security services have not provided any evidence that longer detention periods can help in charging suspects. If you consider the amount of laws that have been passed in recent years, you can imagine how draconian the Labour Party wants the government to be. There are enough powers already in the hands of security services that give them the means to combat terrorism. And the new measure is not meant to be part of an emergency package, but the government is putting it part of 'normal' legislation.
Brown is adamant in pursuing the steps of his predecessor, Tony Blair, in bringing many American measures into Britain. Anti-terror laws, ID cards, new security technologies are some of the 'achievements' of Labour in power.
The UK is now number one in the world in the number of CCTV cameras snooping on its citizens, in addition to Oyster cards used by commuters with their electronic details available to security services and police.
The Labour government knows that the amendment is against human rights, and is not actually keen on the ultimate benefit, rather than trying to do something popular and show a legacy of standing firm against terrorism. You cannot keep scaring people all the time to change their way of life, otherwise you will be playing in the hands of terrorists you claim to be fighting by striping people of their basic rights.
Truly, as Davis said in his statement outside the Commons on Thursday, the issue is more political than that involving security. He was not swayed by polls that showed more than half in favour of the extension, while less than a quarter against. When it comes to clear principles, populism in politics is mere opportunism.
A Tory Blair
Brown wanted to achieve anything positive when his party is lagging the opposition in opinion polls. With the economy faltering, he lost the main achievement Labour used to brag about for the last decade. So, as the American experience tells, nothing can be more populist than "national security". That is why the PM had to revive the bid which Blair failed to get through.
As for the Tory party, Cameron would not risk going against opinion polls and make a big fight against the terror laws - he is more of a Tory Blair who knows how media and populism can bring him into office. But spin-politics are short-lived, and in the long term erodes people's trust in politics and politicians.
There is no guarantee that the government will take up the challenge posed by Davis and contest the by-election in his constituency. This will still give the man the benefit of exposing the authoritarian attitude of Labour shying from a public debate, not as some suggested that it will strip the Tory MP of the opportunity to debate the issue of public freedoms even more.
I have never voted Tory in any election, general or local, but if Davis is the typical Tory I would definitely vote them in next. At least to prove to myself that politics was still worth the effort of going to the polling station. Davis has honourably earned the credit for this change of mind - not only my mind, but I think many others.
Yes, as some analysts quickly indicated, the move might cost the opposition more than the government, but again Davis seems to have taken his decision on non-partisan grounds - only on principle. And that is what is making his move a desirable shock to the politicians and public alike.
Security services have not provided any evidence that longer detention periods can help in charging suspects. There are enough powers that give them the means to combat terrorism.
Dr Ahmad Mustafa is an Arab writer based in London.
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