David Davis once told me that the leaders he most admired were “outsiders who made it”. He cited Wellington, Disraeli and Thatcher as examples of politicians who had broken into the inner sanctum of power against the odds.
“Life,” he said, “is a test, a thing you throw yourself at.”
Yesterday the former Shadow Home Secretary set himself the ultimate challenge by precipitating a by-election in his own seat. Presenting himself as the plucky outsider, he said that it was time to stand up against the “slow strangulation of fundamental British freedoms” by the Government. No doubt, his motives are good and his cause is just, but his decision to resign is extraordinarily misguided. He risks turning the play being acted out in Westminster from a Labour tragedy to a Conservative farce.
Those around David Cameron are throwing their hands up in despair at his self-indulgence. “Has he gone mad?” one of the Tory leader's closest allies told me. Another strategist described it as a “massive distraction”, which will “all go pear-shaped”. Most Conservative MPs agree that Mr Davis is putting his own interests before those of his party. Just as this week's Commons vote on the Counter-Terrorism Bill was, in the end, as much about Gordon Brown's survival as the plan to extend detention without charge to 42 days, so the by-election in Haltemprice & Howden will, they say, be as much about Mr Davis's ego as the erosion of civil liberties.
Labour MPs cannot believe their luck. As one put it: “It's fantastic, David Davis is single-handedly digging us out of an enormous hole.”
Until Mr Davis resigned, the narrative was clear. Mr Brown may have won this week's Commons vote but he had lost the moral high ground. He had shown himself willing to compromise to save his own skin, rather than to stick to his principles. The talk of a deal with the Democratic Unionist MPs, and the left-wing bribes flung to Labour rebels were a reminder of “pork-barrel politics”, a far cry from the “new style of politics” that Mr Brown promised when he first moved into No10. The Prime Minister was facing a brutal mauling in the House of Lords.
Now it is Mr Cameron's political authority that is under the spotlight. Instead of Labour, it is the Conservatives that look chaotic and divided over how best to deal with the terrorist threat.
And, although the Tory leader has spent years trying to persuade voters that his party is interested in a broad range of subjects, including poverty, childcare and education, now Mr Davis is going back to fighting a single-issue campaign.
The line put about by Labour spin-doctors that Tory policy on terrorism has been “contracted out to the civil liberties lobby” will resonate. And although the Liberal Democrats - the second-biggest party in Mr Davis's constituency - have said that they do not intend to stand against him, and Labour may follow suit, the Conservative Party has everything to lose and nothing to gain from a by-election in a seat that they already hold.
Voters don't like their hands to be forced unnecessarily. When George Lansbury stood down in 1912 in the middle of a Parliament on a point of principle - women's suffrage - he lost his seat and did not return to the Commons for ten years. “We are really baffled about why David is doing this,” a Cameron aide said.
The truth is that this, as ever, is as much about personality as politics. Mr Davis has never been a team player. He prefers individual sports such as mountaineering to group games. A self-confessed Alpha Male, he has a climbing wall in his barn in Yorkshire and has been known to give colleagues Action Man dolls for Christmas. There was once an ice axe leaning against his desk when I visited him in his Westminster office. Alan Clark recorded admiringly in his diaries that DD had walked the “black route” along the unprotected battlements of Saltwood Castle “without turning a hair”.
There is a theory popular with some MPs that all politicians are psychologically flawed. People only go into the bear pit of Westminster, the argument goes, because something in their childhood makes them crave the endorsement by thousands of people that election brings. Mr Davis's upbringing was marred by a terrible relationship with his stepfather - the night before his physics A level he walked out of the family home after a furious row. At some level, he felt that he had been usurped in his mother's affections. Some friends say that he still finds it impossible to cope with rivals who have taken what he believes to be his rightful place.
Certainly, Mr Davis has clashed with all his political bosses - falling out with John Major over Europe before having run-ins with William Hague, Iain Duncan Smith and Michael Howard over strategy.
When he was demoted by IDS for disloyalty, he hit back, saying darkly: “If you're hunting big game, you must make sure you kill with the first shot.” He once admitted to me that he did not always have a “comfortable” relationship with his party's leaders. “The Roman emperors always had somebody behind them whispering in their ear ‘you're only mortal',” he said, and it was clear that he thought his role was, at least in part, to do the same.
I am sure that Mr Davis believes that he is fighting, as he put it, a “noble cause” but subconsciously darker forces may be at work. Perhaps the son of a single mother from a council estate has never quite forgiven the Old Etonian child of a stockbroker for snatching the leadership from him three years ago.
Perhaps he cannot bear the thought that Mr Cameron is getting all the glory now that things are starting to go well. Mr Davis likes to quote Galileo who said: “Unhappy the land that needs heroes.” Now, however, he is trying to be Superman when political parties need Clark Kents who are willing to work as part of a team.
The paranoia induced by Blair and fed by Brown are leading us towards a police state. Some issues are above narrow party political advantage. I heard his passionate and cogent arguments in the Commons debate, and I support him unequivocally. The progressive loss of our freedoms are beyond politics.
Peter Curran, Kirkliston,
To - Ted, Bath, UK. Who decides who is a terrorist? In a free democracy it is in court in front of a jury. A panel chaired by the Home Secretary is how Mugabe operates.
Ian Bryan, Reading, UK
I said it yesterday, i'll say it again David Davis deserves the title of 'right honourable member'. Its just a shame there are not a few more like him. Just look at Labour crow. 'Look, look someone is making a worse move than us'. Hoping i'm sure to start the distraction wagon rolling.
Dave, London, UK
A good week for the common man vs. the establishment. Thank you DD and the Irish for giving the opportunity to reflect real world concerns rather than what 'they' say we need.
John French, Shenfield, Essex
I preume the Times will be supporting Kelvin McKenzie anyway.
Good on DD i say.
Andy, london,
I imagine DD realises that, win or lose, this may irreparably damage his political future. All the more credit to him then for highlighting this dangerous drift towards state control. He may well be remembered for this act long after his contemporaries are forgotten.
David, Oxford,
I totally agree with Mr Davis but the way to make changes is to defeat labour is to get brown and his cronies out of power. Unfortunately Mr Davis may have set back this objective. One has to wonder at Mr Camerons control over his party.
Bill Luke, st helens, UK
I am genuinely in two minds about David Davis' decision. On one hand it is refreshing to hear of a politician who resigns on a principle rather than wriggling and obfuscating, so I wish him well. However, has he resigned on the wrong subject in this case? ID cards perhaps might have been better.
Bob Ericson, Tewkesbury, Glos, UK
i feel angered by the media's response to this subject. The focus has been on the man not the issue. Critise DD's method for being extreme but it is necessary to be heard in an age of shock reporting. The media has been negligent in voicing opposition to this affront to our freedoms. DD reminded us.
James Watton, quarry bank, england
I agree his view but not his tactics.Labour is a state capitalist regime that is strangling the country. By his deed, Mr Davis has let up the pressure on Brown and his lot at a time when one more push could have finished them off. Bad laws are easier to repeal if you are in power.
Stephen Bell, Cambridge, UK
Can't you see Churchill in Davies? And Chamberlain in Cameron?
Noel Falconer, COUIZA, France
Isn't it typical of out national press to try and lambast a man of decency and honour. I applaud what he is doing, by giving people the forum to debate and consider the implications of the erosion of our liberties, people will be able to make an informed decision on this subject. I hope he succeeds.
Gary, Cheshire ,
How I wish that all politicians were men of principle, that they would all resign from the corrupt Westminster to Brussels gravy train and would stand for honesty, decency and freedom on their own. The country is sick of the feeble and greedy men who currently govern us.
R. George, Bristol, UK
Mr Davis knows something we don't, I feel. I don't think this is simply a matter of defending Magna Carta; more a ploy to get at Cameron. The question is: why would Davis take such a risk when the Tories appear to be so successful?
John Bull, Wolverhampton, England
I agree with Davis on the issue, but the by-election is a cheap stunt that dilutes rather promotes his message.
It is a safe seat that the Tories would expect to win easily anyway right now - so what can it possibly prove?
Nick, France,
The reaction of Westminster journalists and politicians to David Davis's principled stand - agree with him or not - has been pathetic. Politicians complain that they are held in contempt by the public - their party political trivialising of this issue amply demonstrates why we feel that way.
anne murphy, London,
A pity the 30 or so Labour MPs who voted against the 42 day rule hadn't got the courage to do the same as DDavis. Then we might have seen the whole Brown stalinist edifice crumble once and for all. Enough state sureveillance, restore Democracy, destroy NuLabour.
Will, Leeds, England
I am concerned at the attitude of the Times on the resignation of David Davies; "from bruiser to loser". As far as I can see he is the only politition with enough backbone to stand up and be counted in a long while. If his actions damage the prospects of the Conservative party where is democracy?
Theresa, Exeter,
Fantastic action by a man of principle. On 42 days both major parties voted contrary to their instincts and entirely for political reasons. DD stands tall amongst this gutless shower.
John Pierpont, London,
I have just read some of the stuff above this form. The Times is really out to get DD, I wonder why? Politics and the media approach to it is becoming quite sickening in the UK today.
Theresa, Exeter,
Like most commentators here, I applaud David Davis' courage in taking a very public stand against our slow drift into tyrrany. Professional politicians and journalists deplore what he has done. Seems that DD is the one who has caught the public mood!
David, London,
Go for it David. A man of principle at last unlike the Labour front bench.
AJM, High Wycombe,
Well fortunately I can vote for him.
And I will! he is a good consituency MP
The problems with these laws are not what the current government will do with them but what a future with less morals "may" do with them. They are a danger to all of us
as who is to decide who is a terrorist or not?
Derek, Brough, East Yorkshire
Well done Mr Davis, of course we have such a cynical press in this country so he will slowly be destroyed by them.
Paul Timms, ilford, U.K
Our Government has proposed a change to EU rules that will store all emails for 6 months and phone calls for one year.
A proposal met by deafening silence from the media and the opposition
How is this proposal different from opening the Royal Mail to check our personal correspondence?
Tom, Huddersfield, uk
I realise the "intelligentsia" cannot understand anyone acting out of conscience or principal.
To call his actions farcical really does show the gap between you "Professional classes" and plebs like me.
Peter Bolt, Redditch, UK
Louis Blanc How many data bases do you think you are on that are commercial, without your permission and nothing to do with Government.? Yes we do need to curb snooping, but we do need to detain those who wish to mass murder while they are assessed. Davis is confusing these issues.
Ted, Bath, UK
Jaqui Smith should resign her seat and fight Davis. Is there a single labour canditiate who will dare to stand up for Smith and Brown on this issue? Davis will win almost 100% of the vote. This is no Tory farce, it is a Labour rout.
Philippa Pirie, London, England
Never liked the man either, but I think this is great. He's making a good point, even if you think of the billions of pounds that might be saved by stopping future mega-databases etc. Besides, it's a good distraction during the next two years of this tedious and pointless government.
JTaylor, London, UK
Davis is right to be disgusted with the way Labour is trampling on hard won and long protected individual freedoms but is probably wrong to force a by-election on the issue, as the government had already done an admirable job of discrediting their own policy.
Rob, St Andrews,
I don't care what you think- I'm paying way too much in taxes, so to see someone with the principles to say "enough is enough" is real leadership. I've had enough of the survellance state, what waste.. My wife comes from a former communist country- said we are now way, way worse.. bad news really
Phil A, Headley, UK
The media believe that this is a foolish move, does it matter what the public think? I hope so. Out here in the world, DD is being praised for his move. God knows, we need some politicians we can admire. If his tory colleagues ('senior insiders') sneer, print their names and more fool them.
jack, chelmsford,
There is a problem with Big Brother surveillance. It is disgusting in every sense. However Davis is lumping it in with
necessary security measures.We need security ,we don't need to have our bins investigated.
Christopher T, Blackpool, UK
Maybe he has had enough of Blair2, all things to all people, policies that is David Cameron's Conservatives. If his actions move Cameron back to Tory values then his personal career sacrifice will be worthwhile.
Tony Gee, London,
Davis makes a brave and pricipled stand on a matter of constitutional importance and you reduce it to pap pschology about his relationship with his mother.
Pathetic.
High time someone called Labour out on turning the UK into a police state.
Maximum respect for Davis over this.
Redcliffe, London,
Never liked the man. I have to say he gets huge respect for doing this.Can anyone remember the last MP to resign over principles?The Media would do well to take note, they have become so jaded (judging by the reaction) they have no principles either. To few people put the Countries interests first
mal, Yeovil,
What does Davis imagine he will achieve apart from a bit of publicity and a hefty bill for the taxpayer? It shows a complete lack of political judgement to behave like this.
Davis should have stayed in his seat and fought in the House as he was elected to do.
Andy, London,
David Davis has set the benchmark that all torys should aspire to. He has highlighted the main issue that affects quality of life in the UK, and the alternative to Labour's 'nanny state'. NOW - do not miss this opportunity and back him. It is the one issue that differentiates you from Labour.
winstonian, Darlington, uk
We had 14 days detention, then 28 days and now 42 days.
What next from this Fascist Government.?
I expect an increase shortly to 70 days.
Louis Blanc, Liverpool, UK
Davis may also have been misled by the blogosphere. There are a couple of hundred right-wing nutters who hate Brown so much that they have flooded political blog sites with anti-parliament and extreme libertarian views. Davis may have thought this tiny rabble was a cross-section of society.
Bob, London,
Hugely impressed with Davies' action; equally sickened by the political & media establishment's cynical response. With Cameron,the Conservative Pary has transformed. I welcome its stance on civil liberties, like many new younger voters. Davis gives us all a chance to reinforce that. Seize it!
Cllr.Peter Lewis CC, Loughborough, Leicestershire
I wish I could vote for him and I wish my MP had the balls to stand up and say "enough".
Tom, Huddersfield, uk
I think people are missing the point here. Very few individuals will ever be detained for 42 days, only those who the police have reasonable cause to suspect for terrorist related offences. You can't bail terror suspects, they must be detained while complicated investigations are carried out
Sophie, Liverpool,
It`s interesting to see the gap between politicians and the `media` on the one hand with the opinion of the vast majority of people who care enough to comment on what Davies has done:looks like one man`s principles (normal people) are another man`s farce (media/politicians).How out of touch!!!
John Rafferty, Prague,
.....against the creeping authoritarian principles being enforced by the current government, thus eroding the Magna Carta of 1215, and the established, and privileged ‘English judicial system’, envied by the world....
thorpe, Burnley,
Rachel Sylvester and her ilk just don't get it. People are fed up with the intrusive and increasingly oppressive power of national and local government. I think that David Davis has struck a very resonant chord with the public. She's typical of the illiberal left-wing metropolitan elite.
Mike, Liverpool, UK
This columinst could not be more wrong. I respect his decision to take a principled stand and it is an indictment of the cosy Westminster/Media setup that they react so badly when someone abandons their job for a principle.
Would that there were more like Davis.
Russell Long, Tonbridge,
Go David Davis! And win!!
A man of principle with guts. Amazing how the media debate, even now, is being turned to explore his allegedly selfish motivations. We truly do get the politicians we deserve...
Verity, Harrogate, England
The Time's commentary completely missed the point and has misjudged opinion. Get out of the Westminster 'incremental gains' mindset! This is a courageous stand on principle - and will do more for the conservatives against the Coward Brown.
Matthew, London, UK
I would like a gander at Mr Davis's MP expenses before I commit to the 'honest and decent' bandwagon.
michael murphy, brightlingsea, england
This isn't a 'single issue' matter, unless basic civil liberties eroded by an increasingly threatening and intrusive State can be so described. Nice to know someone is doing more than make speeches or write about it. Brown is derided for having no principles; Davis is mocked for his.
anne, bournemouth,
David Davies has an inflated idea of his importance. With this ego trip he is on he has shown that he lacks political judgment. His by-election is an additional cost on local councils in this area which is not necessary. Mr Davies likes to draw attention to himself on the big issues. This charade will NOT do him or his party any good at all. I hope an Independent with some credibility stands supporting the 42 day issue and wins. Mr Davies would be no loss to Haltemprice.
PETER MARTIN, East Riding of Yorkshire, UK
Agreed, AP. The Westminster hothouse is out of touch with public reality. While I doubt it will do David's 'career' much good, this is a breath of fresh air and principle, and might teach Brown and Cameron thart many of us are sick to death of Westminster horse and sheep trading.
Paul Freeman, London, England
As I understand it Mr Davis is standing on the issue that this Government has betrayed the people of this country again and again with attacks on our freedoms and our independence. I, for one, salute him.
This is not a Tory farce but a decent man making a statement.
Edward Green, Upminster,
At last a man of honour and principle, He has restored my faith in British politics, The British public have had enough of this miserable shower of snouts
afj, St Pierre Le Cour, France
Bravo to Davis. The more the political commentariat paint his decision as self indulgent, as based on ego, as indicating that he can never return to front line politics, the more ordinary citizens realize just how much he has to lose here.
And that makes his stand look all the more principled.
nick may, fukuoka, JAPAN
If Mr Davis can now focus on nothing but highlighting, and thereby reducing, the state's huge and pernicious power versus the individual, then he will be doing a great and useful service to us all. Ms Sylvester forgets that we are not all interested in Westminster politicking, but in our freedoms.
Anna, London,
London is in Middlesex - the rest of us are in Great Britain and specifically England. Vault over your tribal parochialism and see that Davis addresses matters that concern us - real people - not the media-agenda of the celebrity-circuit.
Davis is more in tune with the public than Cameron ever will
TomTom, Leeds, England
Why does every "analysis" article discuss only the petty plotical repucussions inside westminster? Be brave and debate the issue as David Davis has invited you to for crying out loud.
Dave Williams, Beijing, China
Does Magna Carta mean nothing to you?......
Did she die in vain.
Mark, Epping, Essex
I tend to agree with the comments above.. people have had enough with these erosions of our rights and our privacy by a menacing, nannying, frankly scary big brother government.
David Davis has always been sensible and liberal on these issues and I think it's great he is making a stand.
Duncan, London, England
A good analysis. I can't see how this will help the conservative party. The best outcome that DD can hope for is to be returned to parliament as a back bencher. Surely he would be better placed to push for a Tory commitment to reverse the laws from within the shadow cabinet.
simon, london,
They didn't expect Boris to get elected either. The media pundits and the elites are out of touch with Joe Public and occupy a sphere were moral relativism and utility rule the day.
I greatly admire this man and believe him that he like many of us are absolutely sick and tired of the nanny state.
George, Manchester, UK
What was it Dirty Harry said about opinions?...
Anyway, if Labour think Davis' move is good news for them, I think they're mistaken. They'd have to really underestimate how strongly the public now dislike them to think Davis' move is going to help them much.
Simon, Brentwood, UK
You are being very childish in your argument. David Davis is risking his political future something that he has work his whole life towards for the principle of freedom. Shame on you to not engage in debate with him.
If Mr Davis fails then it shows that we have failed also in protecting liberty.
RW, Wisbech,
Agree with AP, the bye-election will cost a few quid but nothing like what has been wasted in the last decade (see "Squandered" by David Craig) and if his victory emboldens the Lords to reject this intolerant Bill then it'll be worth it.
MM, London, UK
Call me silly, but I rather feel that the erosion of civil liberties is far more important than what name the ruling party is to be called by after the next election. I find it very odd, therefore, that this article accuses Mr Davis of a large ego for choosing principle over party politics.
Alex, London,
"NOT human rights" Michael from Sherborne, you have nailed your, rather nasty, colours firmly to the mast. Ask the Americans about civil liberties and, then, carry a gun and shoot people! I thoroughly disapprove of civil liberties, that is, until the public respect the liberty of others.
Marc, Paris,
It will be interesting to see whether, as I suspect he has, David Davis has caught the mood of the country by resigning on a point of principle. If successful he will help to lead, shape and define a still nascent future Tory strategy clearly distinguishable from Labour's monolithic party politics.
Harry Osbourne, Lancashire,
I completly agree.
The public are sick of being told by journalists and politicians what they think.
David Davis has made a stand when nobody else had the guts to.
I believe he will go on to greater things because the public at least know that he has principles even if they do not agree with him.
J Nowland, Leeds, United Kingdom
The Commentariat within the Westminster bubble should get out more, or at least read "Have your say" on any news website. An awful lot of people seem to be grateful for a politician with principles, at long last. Civil liberties (NOT human rights) are too important to be left in Labour's hands.
Michael , Sherborne,
Politicians & journalists are in danger of getting this wrong & underestimating the extent to which people are fed up with Labour's bossy intrusive state and the tax'n'spy agenda. If they stand for anything, the Tories should be on the side of the people against the state. Good for David Davis.
C Powell, London, UK
Let's see how it plays out. I think Mr Davis has caught the public's imagination, It is great to see a a bit of principle on the block.
Much as people would like to portray the Tory's as in 'disarray' that isn't the case. I for one am pleased that an MP feels able to act on his own initiative.
AP, bristol, uk