Labour have confirmed they will Tories target 'extraordinary' win ...
Commons loses MPs' expenses fight ... 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.

Mr Davis announced last week he was to force a by-election in his Haltemprice and Howden seat, which he intended 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 stepped 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.

His resignation, apparently against the wishes of party leader David Cameron, took politicians by surprise, but Mr Davis says it is not a "stunt" but a necessary stand against what he sees as an attack on "fundamental freedoms".

The Liberal Democrats and British National Party have both said they would not be standing.

(BBC)

<< Back