Davis triggers July 10 by-election

David Davis has formally resigned as an MP, with a by-election to be held in his Haltemprice and Howden seat on July 10.

The Conservative quit as shadow home secretary last week, pledging to force the poll in order to protest against the government's erosion of civil liberties and the extension of detention without charge for terrorist suspects to a maximum of 42 days.

However Labour has announced that it will not stand a candidate in the contest it dismisses as a "stunt".

Davis had described the move as "gutless" and claimed that Gordon Brown was his real opponent.

But Dianne Hayter, chairman of Labour's National Executive Committee, said: "We do not believe a parliamentary by-election should be held at taxpayers' expense to resolve tensions at the top of the Conservative Party.

"This is a phoney by-election that is completely unnecessary and the Labour Party will not be taking part in what is a political stunt."

"The Labour Party is happy to spend every day until the next election debating with the Tory party on 42 days and whether it is right to use CCTV and DNA evidence against criminals," she added.

"But a phoney by-election is not the forum for these debates."