Let those Labour MP's who voted against their party on this resign and show us all if they have any backbone at all to stand on principle!

Cedric Woodhall, Brentwood, UK

I think you've put, as usual, a very perceptive and balanced piece together here, Mr P.

I admire him for taking a stand on this issue and from departing from the Westminster script on How Things Are Done.

I'm not a supporter of Mr Davis normally, nor of the Tories, but he's right to make a stand

Antony, Hove, UK

GW
If Davis was really in favour of freedom and Parliamentary Democracy he would not be in favour of handing over all power to the EU. Compared to this and devolution 42 days is a minor rash on the body politic.

Keith, Bournemouth, UK

Is it any wonder that politics turns people off ? The Westminster elite constantly tell us how disillusioned we are with the current political generation, but when one politician does stand up to be counted, he is dismissed as either a charlatan or a madman. I'd campaign for him.

Jeff Mathew, Leatherhead, UK

I think DD is misguided, as is the support for him. Of course "ordinary people" are backing him. He's said he wants "more freedom". Whoopie-do. That's like standing for election to a children's parliament on a platform of more ice cream and chocolate.

He'll be re-elected and nothing will change.

Peter, Watford, UK

Davis has shown leadership.

He has led by example.

All MPs who share the same commitment to freedom will follow his example, resign their seats and fight.

Those who do not can be dealt with at the next General Election.

david Welsh, newcastle, UK

The discomfort of Tory MPs is understandable: the public delight at a principled act is not very flattering.
For Brown the gesture must be discredited quickly, he will probably have to force the bill through the commons again twice.
If DD swings public opinion it will be even more horrible.

John, Basildon, UK

To me it is more proof of the contrast between the "sharp elbows" aggresive assertiveness of the "Professional Middle classes" and normal human beings..
Some of your colleague, Matthew, would not recognise an act of conscience or prinicipal if it smacked them in the face.
I blame their parents.

Peter Bolt, Redditch, UK

Good for you Mr Davies,
It is great to see a man standing on principle and doing what he feels to be right.
Well done

Richard Weekes, Ullapool, UK

there's no chance of brown resigning and letting the rest of have a vote is there? we wanted (and he hinted at) a general election. he promised a referendum. now he wants to jeer a man who is putting his view to the people? it seems to tbe only way to get a vote on anything.

jem, london, uk

You make a valid point. Gordon Brown claims that most people support him on 42 days, so why doesn't he field a candidate? As usual, he bottles it, without realising how this looks to the public. He is a coward and a bully and, again you are right, he should remember that no-one has elected him!

Tony, Cambridge,

England (and the Tories!) needs a leader of substance, conviction and courage. Davis has it, Cameron and his glove puppet Osborne don't. The Tories need Davis far more than they need the Eton Trifles whose only conviction is self-serving aggrandisement. Davis for PM.

John Smith, Manchester, uk

I think Matthew is correct when he says that the public may see it differently: to me David Davis has echoes of the White Suit man, whose name I forget: a crusade against the violent erosion of civil liberties is time apposite.

Oliver, Cambridge,

Davis whipped on Maastrict. He cannot therefore fight the real attacks on sovreignty and parliamentary power. That is the EU and devolution . The Scots and the Welsh can vote on English matters but we cant vote on theirs. The 42 day thing
is a distraction.

Calvin, Worcester, UK

Matthew Parris, you have sussed out the way that so many of us feel. We may question DD's methods but we admire his motives. At last someone with the courage to stand up and be counted. Compare DD's actions with the worm Brown who wants to sell us all out.

John Bell, Nottingham,

Britain in 2008 has become an ugly and undemocratic place.
The government is spying on us,lying to us and steamrolling us in to a vast European superstate,that none of us want.
Very few people actually have the courage to stand up and and question where it is we arte heading.
Mr.Davis is one.

james, Marbella, Spain

Civil liberties? Surely this is not the same David Davis who wants to bring back hanging? Clearly the man is unstable and not to be trusted.

Andrew May, De Panne, Belgium

I don't view David Davis's action as in the least vain. He seems to be one man who has the courage of his convictions. We are in danger of sleepwalking into totalitarianism in this country: CCTV, ID Cards, irresponsible laws, the largest DNA base of innocent people in the world. Deeply worrying.

MC, London, England

Fudge and dodge seem to be the guiding principles of modern politicians in Britain. It is refreshing to see a politician put his principles before career advancement.

sinna mani, London , UK

Matthew Parris is right in saying that the electorate are much more on the side of David Davis, something you would not be able to divine by just reading the opinions from the sealed off world of Westminster. Just take a look at the thousands of emails on the BBC news website; huge support for him

Juliec, Cambridge, UK

'Gordon Brown has attacked Mr Cameron in grave terms for flouting the popular will on 42 days'

Risible, given Buggins past and continuing behaviour over the Lisbon Treaty. No obvious regard for either the 'popular will' or keeping manifesto pledges.

m collins, Leeds,

The key point is that Davis (and by implication the Tory party) are willing to face the voters. Brown chickens out of elections, promised referenda and destroys our rights - all without being willing to face us. The electorate won't reward such cowardice. Davis is a democrat with principles.

David , Brighton, UK

Well Done David Davis,

See the film V for Vendetta to see the true future.

ARM Lincolnshire

A R Morrison, market Rasen,

If we are to believe the poll on this Labour will have a massive win. Obviously Brown does not think this and is not willing to risk it by fielding a candidate as he knows he will be resoundingly defeated. Is there not a duty for major parties to field an opposing view? Where is democracy otherwise!

bill, cornwall,

Disregarding his motives, the risk to his career and his political persuasion, the fact is, what he is saying about erosion of our civil liberties is absolutely true. At last somebody in the Westminster village has finally got the guts to stand up and say what the public have known for a long time.

Carl, Burgh Le Marsh, Lincs

Some good meat here for Cameron too. Brown has bottled out of a promised European referendum, a general election that he had intended to call, and probably now a by-election fought over civil liberties.

Why is Brown so scared not to let the public have any vote on his policies?

ged, Exeter,

David Davis has my vote; a commendable act. The only stunt here is to be found at the door at No 10 who wished to use 42 days detention without trial as a fig leaf to look tough while arguing any one who opposed was weak on terrorism ~ short term expediency.

Keith, Bath, UK

We are using a pile-driver to break the nut of the terrorist threat. And the force of the blow is going to put a crack in the principle of Habeus Corpus. Let's get this thing in some perspective.

Kevin Straw, Leicester,

The facical political fudge & disrespectful way our basic freedoms have been curtailed, the arrogance of labour & Brown in limiting parliamentray debate - therebye limit ing public debate and minimise public appreciation of the fudges made in respect to 42 days - Good luck, well done to David Davis.

N Howorth, Preston,

How can Davis stand for liberty when he would repeal the Human Rights Act and would bring back state killing called capital punshment. This bye election will surely expose Davis's mixed up views on liberty.
Would Davis repeal the car seat belt law, it infringes my rights to choose not to belt up.

anthony J, Tredegar, Gwent

I am not a big civil liberty advocate, especially for criminals and terrorists. But each time I go back to the UK I am appauled at the intrusive spying of CCTV cameras, of the nanny state and the erosion of personal freedom. Mr Davis should be the next Prime Minister..soon!

Elaine, Nohant, France

Much as I admire DD for his stance, I feel it will quickly become an irrelevance. The electorate are more concerned with fuel/food costs, immigration etc. No one will remember this in a years' time, after all who remembers John Major's resignation & subsequent leadership battle in '95 v J.Redwood?

Brian Roberts , Plymouth, Devon

I hope Mr Davis wins his by-election with a thumping majority. Labour are trying to talk his actions down because they are afraid of the outcome. I'm sure the electorate in Mr Davis's constituency will use this as an opportunity to prove yet again that we need a General Election now.

R J Cook, Welwyn Garden City, England

Having set the precedent, will David Davies be resigning his seat when future outcomes do not align with his own view? Bypassed and isolated by the opposition parties not fielding a candidate, MacKenzie looking like a teflon coated recipient of the opposing vote, it's all looking Pete Tong.

Barry, Bournemouth, uk

Mr. Davis’ extravagant action will only make sense if he tells us the real underlying reasons for what he objects to. Isn’t it reasonable to assume that he’s actually stepped into the camp of those who think that the ‘War on Terror’ is an incredibly elaborate hoax designed to subjugate all to a ‘New World Order’ of tyranny?

David, Cambridge, UK

Go Mr Davis!, I do not know of one person who is against what this man is standing for. About time someone acted on what the British people really want.

Roshea, Devon, UK

Every success to David Davies. Politics has become a battle between corporate sales forces aided by their adverrtising agencies - the media - seeking minimal market gain and willing to trash the liberties of the country to achieve it. An informed, educated electorate faces returning to serfdom.

Mike, Milton Keynes, UK

The comments on this page--particularly from well-wishers in America--give me heart. The political class, in Britain and in Europe, is broken; but the civil society survives. Politics cannot be fixed unless people like Mr. Davis--a lot more people--are willing to stand and be counted.

Andrew Baker, Oxford, UK

I disagree with you in only one respect. The public have rightly conflated the issues(see GW). That conflation produces a prevailing attitude of desolation amongst many, which necessitates at least 3 remedies: 1. stop telling us what to do; 2. trust us to do right things; 3. reduce and simplify tax.

SG, Aldsworth, UK

I fully support DD's actions and hope he has a resounding victory. At last we have someone who is prepared to fight for our liberty which has been seriously curtailed under this unprincipled Govt. There is far too much surveillance and too many lapses in the protection of our personal information

Liz Brown, Montmartin en Graignes,

Everyone I've spoken to at Tory party grassroots is impressed and admires David Davis' actions. Hard-left friends of mine respect and admire his actions.
The public have already tributed Davis the respect that the Westminster Village is stinting him.

Giovanni, London, UK

Throughout the circus of the last ten or twelve years of British politics, I have repeatedly asked myself "Where the hell are are the fabled Englishmen of quality, guts, integrity, principle and character?"

David Davis proves that they still exist....even if his father was Welsh!"

Garth Rex, Glendale Heights, USA

Councils are already abusing anti-terrorist laws in pursuit of minor liability investigations. In many towns you now have to pay to protest publicly. In the 60's the introduction of 90 day detention without trial in South Africa heralded the end of Apartheid/ Lets hope 42 is the end of ZANU-Lab

Danny, Manchester,

Well said! I remember Zorba the Greek saying 'You have everything my friend, except madness - without madness who dar'st cut the bond and be free!' Davis speaks for England

Andrew, Hereford, UK

We all want the freest society possible. But one of the defining points of society is the freedoms we are prepared to give up for the common good.

David, Dubai, UAE

How can standing by ones principles be a 'stunt'?

It's only a stunt to those without principles

Mike, Grvesend, England

I support him and will be donating to his campaign its time someone took a stand before we sleep walk into a police state.

paul mitchell, Wolverhampton, England

By focusing so intensely on 42 days, it seems politicians have diverted the public's gaze from other elements of the anti-terror bill which are apparently are also alarming. I hope these will all come to light during his campaign, as will as the cumulative authoritarianism of New Labour.

vicky, London, UK

42 days detention is a dangerous farce. It could ultimately damage the intelligence that the security services needs from within the Muslim community to prevent a future 7/7. Gordon Brown knows this but won't take the challenge for fear the spotlight will reveal this.

John Goode, Welwyn Garden City, UK

Taking such a risk is hardly a 'stunt'. I think the reason that so many in Westminster condemn him is because they wouldn't recognise a principle if it hit them in a fuel lorry!

Steamkettle, Gosport,

After McBroon's humiliating "victory" aided and abetted by those bastions of democracy and tolerance, the DUP, Britain became a foreign country overnight. No longer protected by Magna Carta we the people now become the playthings of the Executive.

Nigel Wroe, Doncaster, Yorkshire

I'm not a fan of Davis's. But hearing Brown call it a stunt and a farce and seeing that our "brave, patriotic" PM will not dare to run a Labour candidate makes me hope Davis is returned with a huge vote on a massive turnout. The crowing from Labour makes them look hideous. Good luck Davis!

M , London,

The political class may be in for a lesson in how the public feels about the surveillance state.They are fed up. Let us hope the bye election resonates far and wide across the land.

oldasiahand, Manila, Philippines

The disdain of the Westminster village for a politician who takes a principled stand on an issue is a clear case of groupthink cutting people off from external reality. Most of the public comments are strongly in favour. The public likes mavericks.

John Small, Faversham, UK

I agree : he just might be proved right.
We have had 9 or more years of double talk,
spin, U - turns and other hogwash
Its just possible that the public
will stand by someone (even an ex-MP ?)
who stands up for what he believes in
and says what he really thinks
yours
angry of emmer green

anthony wright, Reading, BERKS

As a British Indian I find it deeply troubling to see both politicians and westminster village hijack public interest. The most ardent supporters of personal liberty will acknowledge that terrorism needs to be confronted without compromise.
If we really care this bill must not be allowed to die.

LAKSHMAN PARDHANANI, GOA, India

Of course Davis is capturing the public imagination and gaining popular support. He's challenging the government on its increasingly Orwellian tendencies. He's standing up for the citizen against an increasingly authoritarian state.

When's the demonstration in support? I wanna wave a placard!

Simon, Brentwood, UK

What exactly is he risking? Power and a ride on the gravy train? You make it sound as if that is why people go into parliament.

Paul, Rochester, UK

It's right to conflate the different issues. DD thinks that we should be as free as possible, and that policies should flow from this. Labour's approach has been devoid of any fundamental intellectual basis, with issues approached piecemeal not coherently as a whole - eroding freedom gradually.

GW, London,

It is a measure of the New Labour Effect that nobody now can believe that Mr Davis has done this for the reasons he has stated.
This was illustrated by Brown's carefully structured "I made no deal". Technically, but not substantially, true. A typical 21st century politician's remark.

john miller, london, uk

I expect it won't much matter. Perhaps better he goes now rather than later over an issue that could be more damaging. But I tend to think all that now atands between the Tories and government is a bit of discipline. I wonder if they can.

Geoff, Sydney,

If there are two things the British electorate tend to object to they are unnecessary by-elections and elections at which there is only one realistic candidate. Mr Davis may not lose but he could end up looking very foolish.

Allan D, London, UK

I can't quite figure out if I support DD or not.

The 42 days decision is an insult to everyone who has fought or died for this country's freedom, but why should an Opposition MP resign over a Government act? Where are the Labour resignations?

All the Oppo has to do is say they'll retract it.

David Short, London,

A decade of outrageous surveillance, an absence of redistribution, and unexpected leftist elitism has changed me. I have been a very left-leaning Liberal. I am now on the Libertarian right. This is the last stand for the intelligent working class. If it fails, our votes go to the far right.

Paul, Coulsdon,

Very true, it was a bit like the class bullies picking on the kid who was different, "you're weird". Still probably a bad idea, especially if he is opposed by Kelvin McKenzie who'd lock up those muzzlims for 402 days, rather someone who would have a serious debate

adrian, London,

A more worthy cause would be for an elected MP to resign his/her seat on the issue of the promised EU referendum.
Politicians need to realise they represent the people and not their own self interest. We need a UK constitution to STOP the political classes lining their pockets at our expense.

I Mortimer, Middlesbrough, North Yorkshire

The public are justified in conflating the issues. These stem from the mistaken belief that it is more important to be seen to be acting tough than actually dealing with a problem.

Those who would give up essential liberty to purchase a little temporary safety, deserve neither liberty nor safety.

Steve Buckel, Braunau-am-Inn, Austria

A bit of a cop out I think. Davis is yesterdays headline. The Irish vote has saved Cameron's neck as he can call for the trashing of the Treaty and call for a 'democratic' Europe knowing he doesn't actually have to come clean on his own position.

Robert, Worcester, UK

I am glad that Mr Davis has stood up for a his beliefs

Tom, London, UK

How right you are.
The unlistened to masses are right behind David Davis.
Cameron has shown himself to be weak and ineffective whilst
Davis has elevated himself to Churchillian heights.
Cameron is finished, at least we will have a new prime minister with fire in his belly, DD ( D-Day Davis ).

J Nowland, Leeds, United Kingdom

The Government's misuse of power has become ever more transparent and distasteful. Ever since an elderly gentleman was manhandled out of their conference the cracks have been appearing wider and revealing more of the canker within. I think many will support Mr Davis and respect his taking a stand.

Nick, Cardiff, UK