Jun
15
After
the initial widespread scepticism of David Davis' move to resign his
seat and force a by-election on the issue of civil liberties, things
seem to be loosening up.
There is an extensive article in today's Times
that, first of all, brings us the news that at least one Labour rebel
is travelling to Yorkshire to support Davis, the MP for Medway, Bob
Marshall-Andrews. There is also Davis claiming that although he will
not have the full Tory Party machine behind him, he has “had thousands
of calls of support, right down to the pensioner who says ‘my pension
comes in tomorrow. I’ll send some money to Mr Davis out of it’. The
offers of money have gone from a fiver to £25,000.”
that, first of all, brings us the news that at least one Labour rebel
is travelling to Yorkshire to support Davis, the MP for Medway, Bob
Marshall-Andrews. There is also Davis claiming that although he will
not have the full Tory Party machine behind him, he has “had thousands
of calls of support, right down to the pensioner who says ‘my pension
comes in tomorrow. I’ll send some money to Mr Davis out of it’. The
offers of money have gone from a fiver to £25,000.”
The Guardian (or The Observer,
depending on whether read online or not) reports that he received one
email “from a woman who worked on a local government project to
encourage the alienated and unfranchised to vote. What he had done, she
wrote, would 'make my job so much easier'.”
depending on whether read online or not) reports that he received one
email “from a woman who worked on a local government project to
encourage the alienated and unfranchised to vote. What he had done, she
wrote, would 'make my job so much easier'.”
Also in the
Guardian comes the news that Labour may be trying to convince an
outsider to stand against Davis, but their reported approach to Rachel
North, a 7/7 survivor, failed because she actually gets why the 42-day
detention legislation is so lunatic: “I am a big fan of civil liberties
and freedom and democracy, all things that terrorists are not keen on
…” She supports Davis, and has indicated she “might do something” in
his campaign if he asked.
Guardian comes the news that Labour may be trying to convince an
outsider to stand against Davis, but their reported approach to Rachel
North, a 7/7 survivor, failed because she actually gets why the 42-day
detention legislation is so lunatic: “I am a big fan of civil liberties
and freedom and democracy, all things that terrorists are not keen on
…” She supports Davis, and has indicated she “might do something” in
his campaign if he asked.
What of Kelvin Mackenzie? Well, regardless of the fact he is floundering in local polls,
there is the small detail that his claim that Rupert Murdoch would back
him financially is not possible, because of rules preventing an
overseas citizen financially backing an electoral candidate. His claim
that Hull is a “shocker” did him no favours either, after which,
according to Conservative Home, Murdoch “disowned him”.
there is the small detail that his claim that Rupert Murdoch would back
him financially is not possible, because of rules preventing an
overseas citizen financially backing an electoral candidate. His claim
that Hull is a “shocker” did him no favours either, after which,
according to Conservative Home, Murdoch “disowned him”.
Yesterday, Dominic Grieve's indication
that the Tories may push the detention limit further down from 28-days
hinted that Davis' move may have “opened the floodgates”. Today, The Englishman points to an article in The Scotsman
that Davis's supporters in the party see the by-election as the only
the “first salvo” in a “relentless campaign” on civil liberties and
freedom. One of his allies said that the Conservatives were the “only
libertarian party out there”, “that is what the Tory Party is about”.
that the Tories may push the detention limit further down from 28-days
hinted that Davis' move may have “opened the floodgates”. Today, The Englishman points to an article in The Scotsman
that Davis's supporters in the party see the by-election as the only
the “first salvo” in a “relentless campaign” on civil liberties and
freedom. One of his allies said that the Conservatives were the “only
libertarian party out there”, “that is what the Tory Party is about”.
Strong words, but as the Devil
points out, the Tories are a long way from being a “libertarian party”,
or from being classical liberal. Still, it is nice to see assorted
members of the Tory Party wishing to “redraw the Conservatives as the
party of liberty, against the authoritarian Labour Party.”
points out, the Tories are a long way from being a “libertarian party”,
or from being classical liberal. Still, it is nice to see assorted
members of the Tory Party wishing to “redraw the Conservatives as the
party of liberty, against the authoritarian Labour Party.”
The Liberty Bell is ringing, politicians will ignore it at their peril.
There is no left or right in UK politics any more. This battle is about one thing, Authoritarianism versus Liberty.
