TOP Tory frontbencher David Davis shocked Westminster today by announcing that he was resigning as an MP to "take a stand" against the Government's 42-day terror detention plan.
The shadow home secretary said he was forcing a by-election to protest against the "insidious" erosion of civil liberties in Britain.
One Labour cabinet minister branded the by-election a "farce" and accused the Tories of being in "disarray" and "
confusion."
And former home secretary David Blunkett dismissed the resignation as a "childish and immature" publicity stunt.
Mr Davis spearheaded the Conservatives' failed bid to defeat the Government over extending detention without charge, which caused disquiet among some Tory MPs.
He said the undermining of civil liberties through moves such as 42-days detention and the introduction of ID cards "cannot go on."
"It must be stopped and for that reason today I feel it is incumbent on me to take a stand," he told reporters outside the Commons.
Aides to Mr Davis had indicated that last night's vote was "do or die," and he had staked a great deal of his credibility on the outcome.
Privately Mr Davis has accepted that many on the Tory benches were uncomfortable about opposing tough law and order measures.
However, he is seen as one of the Shadow Cabinet's best operators, and has claimed the scalps of a succession of Home Secretaries.
His popularity among the Conservative grass roots was demonstrated when he came runner-up to David Cameron for the party leadership in 2005.
Liberal Democrat leader Nick Clegg said: "David Davis's decision to resign his seat and fight a by-election over the issue of 42 days is a dramatic move. I am grateful to him for having informed me following the vote of his intention to take this step.
"The Liberal Democrats have consistently opposed this unnecessary and illiberal proposal which poses a threat so serious to British liberties that it transcends party politics.
"I have therefore decided, after consultation with the party nationally and locally, that we will not stand a candidate at the forthcoming by-election which will be contested by David Davis solely on this issue."
The Lib Dems had targeted the seat in 2005 as part of its ill-fated "decapitation" strategy to unseat key Tory figures but Mr Davis was re-elected with a 5,116 majority.
Communities Secretary Hazel Blears sought to capitalise on the dramatic resignation.
"The Tories are plainly in disarray and confusion over the serious issue of national security," she said.
"Behind Cameron's facade are the same old Tories fighting like ferrets in a sack.
"This forced by-election is a farce – and an insult to the voters in Haltemprice and Howden."
