Is Davis’ action really unprecedented? The latest issue of The House magazine has a piece by Vernon Bogdanor, perhaps the best politics academic in Britain. He names all previous by-election candidates, almost all of which changed party and believed they had a moral duty to seek a new mandate (Quentin Davies take note). Duchess of Atholl, 1938, Conservative to independent, Richard Acland, 1955, Labour to independent. Dick Taverne (now-Lord Taverne), 1973, Labour to Democratic Labour. Bruce Douglas-Mann, 1982, Labour to independent SDP. Of the above, only Taverne kept his seat. Bogdanor says the closest comparison is when 15 Ulster unionists resigned in 1986 over the Anglo-Irish agreement, ie to reinforce the policy of their party like Davis. 14 succeeded.
Bogdanor’s conclusion is worth reprinting:
“Davis’ sacrifice should command admiration in an era in which politicians motives are increasingly viewed with suspicion. Whether or not his decision helps the Conservative party, it will undoubtedly serve to improve the health of the body politic and for that, surely, he is to he applauded.”
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