The shadow home secretary, David Davis, today dramatically and unexpectedly announced that he is to resign as an MP and force a byelection over the government’s 42-day terror detention plan.

From the Guardian:

The shadow home secretary, David Davis, today dramatically and unexpectedly announced that he is to resign as an MP and force a byelection over the government’s 42-day terror detention plan.
…
Davis said was resigning as an MP to “take a stand” and force a byelection on the issue of the “relentless erosion” of freedom in the wake of the government’s 42-day terror detention plan.

“I will argue in this byelection against the slow strangulation of fundamental British freedoms by this government.” He said the undermining of civil liberties through moves such as 42 days and the introduction of ID cards “cannot go on”.

The Libdems aren’t even going to contest that seat.

Clegg said: “David Davis’s decision to resign his seat and fight a byelection over the issue of 42 days is a dramatic move. I am grateful to him for having informed me following the vote of his intention to take this step.

“The Liberal Democrats have consistently opposed this unnecessary and illiberal proposal which poses a threat so serious to British liberties that it transcends party politics.

“I have therefore decided, after consultation with the party nationally and locally, that we will not stand a candidate at the forthcoming byelection which will be contested by David Davis solely on this issue.

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