Kirkcaldy and Cowdenbeath Anyone?

There is going to be a by election in Haltemprice and Howden following the shock resignation of David Davis the Conservative Home Secretary.

It takes one back to the days when the House of Commons was a place of principle, and top hats and tail were in abundance in the lobbies. Prime Minsters would call a general election if the commons went against them on an important vote. Minsters upon appointment would resign their seat and face a by election, this was how Winston Churchill and others found themselves unexpectedly outside the commons and seeking another seat.

So if there is such a great matter of principle at stake over yesterdays vote how about the member for Kirkcaldy and Cowdenbeath following Mr Davis example resigning his seat and facing the public on this issue on the same day? Two seats, two opposing views both up for the public vote.

Of course the Right 'Honourable' Member for Kirkcaldy and Cowdenbeath will probably cite some reason why this cannot happen and he cannot do the right thing, sorry proper thing to follow Frank Cook's excellent example from the debate. Things such as running the country, fighting the war on terror, fending off the economic disaster facing our country, looking after the wife and kids. So I'll happily in this age of new found chivalry accept his champion.

So therefore instead of another Fife By Election we just have to make do with Redditch seat of Jacqui Smith the Home Secretary, who so clearly also thinks this is a principled stance. Let he defend her Labour majority of 3.6% over the Tories. Although in light of there being some division in Tory ranks over just what they think on this issue can we please be sure that the candidate to take on this battle really is against the 42 days detention without charge. Maybe a unity candidate, who leaves us in no doubt how they stand on this, someone like Tony Benn.