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| Version 1 | Version 2 |
|---|---|
| Labour won't stand against Davis | Labour won't stand against Davis |
| (about 3 hours later) | |
| Labour have confirmed they will not contest the by-election forced by the ex-shadow home secretary David Davis. | Labour have confirmed they will not contest the by-election forced by the ex-shadow home secretary David Davis. |
| The announcement came moments after Mr Davis formally resigned as an MP. | The announcement came moments after Mr Davis formally resigned as an MP. |
| Mr Davis announced last week he was to force a by-election in his Haltemprice and Howden seat, which he intends to fight on the issue of civil liberties. | |
| Mr Davis said that if Gordon Brown did not put up a candidate "people will see him as gutless". The prime minister has called the by-election a "farce". | Mr Davis said that if Gordon Brown did not put up a candidate "people will see him as gutless". The prime minister has called the by-election a "farce". |
| At prime minister's questions, Mr Brown taunted Conservative leader David Cameron, asking if Mr Davis would be listed on the by-election ballot paper as a member "David Cameron's Conservatives". | |
| Labour deputy leader Harriet Harman earlier accused Mr Davis of "wasting over £80,000 to run a by-election, paid for by the council taxpayers". | |
| 'Frolic' claim | |
| She defended Labour's decision not to put up a candidate. "By-elections are for when a member of Parliament dies or when they are genuinely going on to another job," she told the BBC. | |
| We will have the debate, even if Mr Gordon Brown, who is my real opponent in this, stays in hiding in Downing Street David Davis | |
| "This by-election is a frolic and it's more to do with internal divisions in the Conservative Party." | |
| But announcing his resignation on the steps of the Treasury, Mr Davis accused Labour of running away from a debate on their anti-terror legislation. | |
| "There is no doubt in my mind this is the right thing to do. I have never been so sure of a principle in my life," he told reporters. | |
| He said the public were on his side and he confirmed be standing as an official Conservative candidate. | |
| "We will have the debate, even if Mr Gordon Brown, who is my real opponent in this, stays in hiding in Downing Street." | |
| He added: "Mr Brown likes to talk about Britishness - fundamental to Britishness is being free. He should come out and argue the case." | |
| Fringe candidates | |
| Mr Davis announced he would be stepping down as an MP and shadow home secretary on Thursday - the day after the House of Commons voted by a narrow margin to extend the maximum time terrorism suspects can be held, before they are charged, from four to six weeks. | |
| The proposal passed through the Commons by a margin of nine votes, against the opposition of the Tories, Lib Dems and 36 Labour MPs. | The proposal passed through the Commons by a margin of nine votes, against the opposition of the Tories, Lib Dems and 36 Labour MPs. |
| His resignation, apparently against the wishes of party leader David Cameron, took politicians by surprise. | |
| The Liberal Democrats and British National Party have both said they would not be standing in the poll, likely to be held on 10 July. | |
| The Official Monster Raving Loony Party is expected to field a candidate and several other fringe candidates have also expressed an interest. |