Davis and Tony Benn share platform

12 April 2012

Former Tory front-bencher David Davis is to share a platform with veteran left-winger Tony Benn as he continues his bid to be re-elected to the House of Commons.

Mr Davis returned to his former Haltemprice and Howden constituency in East Yorkshire after he formally resigned as an MP this week.

He is due in Hull to debate civil liberties with the former Labour cabinet minister at Hymer's College private school.

Mr Davis shocked the political world when he announced his intention to resign just over a week ago.

He said his resignation was a protest against a "strangulation of freedoms", especially the Government's plans to increase the maximum detention period for terror suspects to 42 days.

As shadow home secretary he had led the Tories' opposition to the measure.

Since his declaration, the Liberal Democrats and then the Labour Party have announced they will not field a candidate against him with Prime Minister Gordon Brown calling the by-election a "stunt".

Those who have thrown their hats into the ring for the July 10 poll so far include Mad Cow Girl from the Official Monster Raving Loony Party and a Northampton market trader.

Mr Benn pledged his support for Mr Davis earlier this week.

The former minister and scourge of New Labour said he was "totally opposed" to the anti-terror measure and urged Gordon Brown to ditch it if Mr Davis was re-elected in Haltemprice and Howden.

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