The humiliation predicted by David Davis's enemies – inside and outside his party – did not materialise in the Haltemprice and Howden by-election that he forced in the name of defending civil liberties.
Considering the former shadow Home Secretary faced no competition from Labour or the Liberal Democrats, a turn-out of 35% in a one-horse race was respectable. Under the circumstances, it was a considerable achievement to persuade 17,113 voters (only 5,679 fewer than at the general election) to put a cross beside his name.
And yet what exactly has been the point?
With his stand Mr Davis has returned himself to the Tory backbenches – David Cameron has already made it clear he can't expect a shadow Cabinet post back. He is now in less of a position to influence the argument over civil liberties than he was when he sat on the Tory front bench with every prospect of becoming Home Secretary.
That might not have mattered had the Haltemprice by-election contest kick-started a national debate on civil liberties that put the spotlight on an authoritarian government.
There is little evidence of that happening at a time when voters are more concerned with the cost of food and fuel and with falling house prices. Meanwhile the Westminster village, to which Mr Davis returns next week, is much more preoccupied with the unpredictable outcome of the Glasgow East by-election.
The ball is now in his court: what other ideas does he have for keeping his civil liberties flame alight?
Some footnotes from the bizarre contest: the Green Party has received a fillip by collecting 7.4% of the vote in the east Yorkshire constituency – its best-ever by-election performance.
The hitherto obscure English Democrats, who want an English Parliament, held their deposit in third place.
And in an unwelcome blast from the past, the racist National Front, who you might have thought had been obliterated by the rise of the British National Party, came fourth out of the 26 candidates. At least they still lost their deposit and are £500 poorer.
'And yet what exactly has been the point?'
Uhm, does that mean 'nepotistic journoes don't get the point'? Does it surprise journalists that their gossip about 'call me Dave' Cameron being so personable is of less interest to Brits than our civil liberties.
Look at this map:
http://www.privacyinternational.org/article.shtml?cmd%5B347%5D=x-347-559597
Our citizen privacy is one point above Communist China, five points beneath France.
I support a European style blend of market economics with strong infrastructure spending. I strongly dislike David Davis's Eurosceptic free market neo-Conservative ideals. Yet I am pleased for his win and think that Tony Benn and Nick Clegg were right to support him.
It is sad that the centre left politicians and media have failed so badly on civil liberties.
'voters are more concerned with the cost of food and fuel and with falling house prices'
Not at all patronising.
Posted by: Gregor | Friday, 11 July 2008 at 11:35 AM
Why don't Davis go and visit the hundreds of victoms of rape and the families of so many people murdered. Yes go and tell them why they can't get justice, and never will because he is against all those things that would reduce crime and bring those responsible to justice.
The man? is a complete and utter pillock.
Posted by: m r williams | Friday, 11 July 2008 at 12:48 PM
But were was the BNP. Perhaps the internal disputes and rife expulsion of most of its senior and experienced officials has left them in such dire straits as not to be able to field a suitable candidate. Or perhaps so much of the memers money has been squandered on pie in the sky schemes that there are not sufficient funds in the coffers. No candidtate at Crewe, no candidate at Glasgow East, all these places could have given them a good showing so it begs the question 'where is the BNP?'.
Posted by: william mccarthy | Friday, 11 July 2008 at 01:09 PM
Why don't Davis go and visit the hundreds of victoms of rape and the families of so many people murdered. Yes go and tell them why they can't get justice, and never will because he is against all those things that would reduce crime and bring those responsible to justice.
The man? is a complete and utter pillock.
He had a rape survivor campaigning with him, as well as one standing against him ( Jill Saward came nowhere)
Posted by: ally | Friday, 11 July 2008 at 01:47 PM
You can't blame Davis for Labour being too afraid to field a candidate.
Posted by: Terry | Friday, 11 July 2008 at 02:05 PM
"The hitherto obscure English Democrats" you don't get out enough or read letters to the press. here read a few.
prick.
Posted by: gadgie | Friday, 11 July 2008 at 02:56 PM
If Davis is really genuinely concerned about the creeping Big Brother society then it is to be welcomed. He will find it much easier to present his viewpoint on the back benches.
Some of us have seen this coming for a long time and wonder where it is taking us? Freedoms being constantly eroded supposedly for our own good? Sounds familiar doesn?t it? Now what was that book we read at school called?
Posted by: scousekraut | Friday, 11 July 2008 at 03:01 PM
I anticipate David Davis will uphold free speech from the back benches and demand that criticism of Islam remains permitted (just) in England.
I also anticipate he will campaign for an English Parliament as he once did so that English people have the same civil liberties as the rest of the UK with respect to democratic representation.
Posted by: Stephen Gash | Friday, 11 July 2008 at 06:47 PM
'The hitherto obscure English Democrats' will be holding their 6th Party Conference on 20th/21st September this year at the Hilton, Leicester. May I suggest you come along and observe, before you write us off as if we were a 'single-issue' party? We are for much more than an English Parliament, although we do regard that as essential, as Terry and Stephen Gash have already said.
Our candidate Joanne Robinson should have been photographed instead of 'Miss Great Britain' - what the heck is she all about? Joanne stood in the first by-election in which the EDP candidate didn't lose his/her deposit. Every time we stand in an election we get our policies known about by more people. In spite of my advanced age, I stood in the local elections this year - the electors in the little town where I live had never heard of the EDP and would probably have described it as 'hitherto obscure'. They can't say that now! Our motto is 'Putting England First' and that really sums it all up.
Posted by: Margaret Stoll | Saturday, 12 July 2008 at 10:54 AM
Davis is a vain self-important twit who has used a considerable amount of tax payers' money to sweeten the sour grapes he is still sucking after losing the leadership battle.
Posted by: SK | Saturday, 12 July 2008 at 08:36 PM
Every political party is 'obscure' when they first begin to make their mark. I am sure the SNP was once referred to as 'obscure'. However, each time a candidate stands for the English Democrats they become more well known, and more people begin to research their policies.
I know that I have been increasingly frustrated at the major parties insistance that democratic deficit is a small price to pay for the continuation of the Union. So to finally find a political party that agrees is absolutely refreshing. I suspect there are many who have silently resented the situation who are equally delighted to have finally found a voice.
Posted by: Zenobia | Sunday, 13 July 2008 at 05:02 AM
You journos in your drunken overpaid hazes wouldn't recognise a principle if it jumped up and bit you on the a***
Posted by: Victor M. | Sunday, 13 July 2008 at 09:18 AM