Less than 48 hours on from 42 days

On Wednesday Parliament, by a majority of nine, voted to extend the period for which a terror suspet can be held without charge from 28 to 42 days. All ten Unionist MPs supported the move, as did UKIP's sole MP, Dr Robert Spink and Ann Widdecombe. The Labour Party did not do this on its own.

In the wake of such a result, Shadow Home Secretary resigned his seat (Haltemprice and Howden), intending to stand again on a platform of opposing "the slow strangulation of fundamental British freedoms by this government.". The Liberal Democrats announced that, in support of Mr Davis' stance, they would not field a candidate. At the time of writing, the Labour Party has not made clear whether or not they will contest this election, with Prime Minister Brown dismissing it as a 'stunt'. Former Sun editor has declared his intention to run on a pro 42 day agenda, should Labour not put somebody forward.

Interpretation of this piece of news comes from all angles, some suggesting conviction politics, others citing it reveals divisions at the top of the Conservative Party.

One parallel that is drawn is with the 1986 Ulster by-elections, when all 15 Unionist MPs resigned their seats to fight on an Anti-Anglo-Irish Agreement platform. The similarities and differences are interesting.

The purpose of the Ulster by-elections was to give voters a chance to reject the AIA - a mini referendum. Mr Davis seems to be trying to prove a point. Furthermore, in Northern Ireland there were multiple contests, all involving Unionism's most senior figures. Over in England there's just one, and his support amongst the Conservative Party's leading lights is questionable.

Back in 1986, a pact was agreed such that only one anti agreement candidate would fight each seat, particularly important in Mid Ulster where Willie McCrea was defending a 78 majority over SF, and the UUP had taken over 7000 in 1983. In Haltemprice and Howden we do have parties with similar positions supporting one another.

In 1986, the SDLP and SF decided only to contest winnable, or nationalist majority seats. In most areas Unionists relied on the Alliance or Workers party for pro-agreement opponents. Yet in East Londonderry, Strangford, North Antrim and South Antrim nobody was prepared to stand against the incumbents. The Unionists needed to find their own opponents. Over in East Yorkshire, it seems that Labour will not stand, but Mr Davis will find a serious ideological opponent. There is talk of a OMRLP challenge.

Of course the results and consequenes cannot be examined yet. In 1986 14 Unionists were returned (all save Jim Nicholson). Of those that were the majorities ranged from 1842 to 33024. I shall be paying close attention as to how Mr Davies' by-election unfolds...