How close did the Conservative Party come to backing Gordon Brown over extending detention without trial to 42 days?
From the voting figures (only one Conservative MP backed Labour, Ann Widdecombe) you might think that the party was pretty united and firm in its opposition. But that would overlook the disputes within the Conservative Party on their line, which even caused David Davis to talk about quitting the Shadow Cabinet:
David Davis is said to have told Mr Cameron that he would rather resign than support the Government’s efforts to extend the period of pre-charge detention beyond 28 days. George Osborne and Michael Gove feared that the Tories risked being painted as “soft on terrorism” but were overruled after a series of private meetings between the two former rivals. (The Times)
George Osborne and Michael Gove aren’t exactly bit players in the Conservative Party, nor does David Davis seem to be the sort of man who would talk about resigning lightly. The splits seem very deep.
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10 Comments
The splits seem very deep.
You guys really crack me up sometimes . . .
There is an umbilical cord linking Michael Gove MP to the country clubs of Virginia. He is Cheney’s eyes and ears in the Shadow Cabinet. But I think he would be rather wary of saying “boo” to David Davis – a man who(unlike Gove) actually can knock the skin off a rice pudding!
Laurence – you might disbelieve it (or perhaps not greatly care about 42 days) but it isn’t Lib Dem Voice talking this up… from today’s Telegraph:
“I think he would be rather wary of saying “boo” to David Davis – a man who(unlike Gove) actually can knock the skin off a rice pudding!”
lol!
No, I don’t much care about 42 days because it’s no big deal. Of course I would have voted against it, but we already have 28 days. 42 days amounts to a 50% increase on the status quo, and is hedged about with so many caveats so as to make the proposals unworkable (as all the clever Conservative lawyers knew only too well). It’s like having a great argument over whether to paint the room magnolia versus apricot white, and I look forward to seeing whether a single innocent person is ever held under this particular extension. But going for a Tory split angle, when one sole MP (who is due to retire) voted with the government, is really too much. It’s not a black and white issue – just a question of degree and balance.
By the way, has nobody noticed that John Bercow abstained last night? I feel sure there’s some obscure interpretation to be spun out of that . . .
And now Davis is resigning. Ridiculous waste of time and money.
And David Davis resigns…
Nick Robinson says he understands the Lib Dems will not contest the by election.
How many tories are going to follow Davis’ example?
No one seems to mention the point why 42 days should be opposed; wrongful arrest and detention. It happens, especially when an incident has occured and the met is in overdrive to produce results. The worst case scenario is lengthy detentions as in Guantanamo, where sheep herders have been turned in by neighbours seeking the financial rewards on offer.