Poll reveals huge public support for David Davis's decision to force by-election over Government terror laws

Simon Walters
Daily Mail
Sunday, June 15, 2008

David Davis has massive public support for his shock move to force a by-election over the Government’s decision to detain terror suspects for up to 42 days without charge.

And he is set to win a historic and decisive victory in his Haltemprice and Howden seat, near Hull – as the first opinion poll carried out in the constituency proves.

The ICM survey for The Mail on Sunday shows overwhelming backing for former Shadow Home Secretary Mr Davis.

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It reveals that he would easily beat former Sun Editor Kelvin MacKenzie – who has said he plans to contest the seat on a ‘pro-42 day’ ticket – by 67 per cent to 14.

And significantly, it shows there is widespread support in the constituency for Mr Davis’s claim that the Government has turned into a ‘Big Brother’ state – while violent criminals go scot-free.

Following sharp criticism of Mr Davis from Labour and Tory enemies alike, the former SAS reservist received a series of boosts as:

* Sun owner Rupert Murdoch disowned Mr MacKenzie’s campaign after he insulted ‘shocking’ Hull.

* The chairman of the pressure group Liberty, Shami Chakrabarti, praised Mr Davis – and is to help a ‘Celebrities for Davis’ operation.

* Labour rebel Bob Marshall-Andrews and other Left-wing MPs will support Mr Davis in the election.

Mr Davis’s decision to resign his seat stunned friend and foe.

Most of his closest political friends and allies were kept in the dark about it and have described it as ‘madness’ and ‘a rush of blood to the head’.

A source very close to David Cameron, who defeated Mr Davis in the Tory leadership contest three years ago, called the maverick MP ‘selfish and arrogant’.

But the ICM survey shows that Mr Davis has strong support from his constituency.

Labour is expected to refuse to field a candidate against Mr Davis – and the survey shows why.

In a straight fight between Mr Davis and Labour, Labour scores a mere 11 per cent – three fewer than Mr MacKenzie in a similar head-to-head contest with Mr Davis.

Labour would also be thrashed in the seat if a General Election was held now.

According to the poll, Mr Davis’s support would soar to 59 per cent with the Liberal Democrats on 26 and Labour on a dismal 12 – an 11 per cent swing to the Tories since the 2005 Election.

Asked if they agreed with his decision to resign over the 42-day terror law, 57 per cent said ‘Yes’, compared with 32 who said ‘No’.

Among Tory voters, more than seven out of 10 said Mr Davis was right to force the by-election – in stark contrast to Mr Cameron’s attempt to stop him.

The poll also indicates overwhelming support for Mr Davis’s claim that Labour has turned Britain into a ‘Big Brother’ state.

Nearly six out of 10 back Mr Davis’s claim that Britain is now riddled with official snoopers, with one in three against him.

Significantly, eight out of 10 young voters say Mr Davis is right on this issue.

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