Which Label Will David Davis Fight Under?

David Davis could hardly have caused more astonishment in the Westminster village had he stood up in the House of Commons debating chamber and taken all his clothes off. Many senior Tories are seething at his decision to cause this ‘unnecessary’ by-election, but they will be obliged to fall in behind him during the campaign. Nick Clegg, meanwhile, has announced that the Liberal Democrats will not put up a candidate against him — a decision which has been endorsed by party president Simon Hughes and other senior party figures, both nationally and regionally. But one detail needs answering before one can be entirely comfortable with that decision: exactly what label is Mr Davis going to use in his campaign and on the ballot paper? If it is ‘Stand Up against 42 Days’, or something similar, all well and good. But if it is ‘Conservative and Unionist Party’, or something similar, then I worry. A straight Tory-Labour fight would disenfranchise LibDem voters in Haltemprtice and Howden. Even worse, it would allow the Conservative Party to lay claim to the ground of civil liberties, which is natural LibDem territory. So I hope Nick and Co will get a firm assurance on this point befor they sign on the dotted line!