It's time to stop the bullshit, we've now been sitting around for about a week and a half doing little more than bicker about the integrity of a single person while standing around gawking. This has been more than long enough to be inactive in an area that we, the liberal contingent of the country, should be leading from the front on. But the question is what can we do, and can we do it, in a way that can unite those that support and loathe David Davis' stance? I don't ask this rhetorically, I'm unashamedly new to this aspect of national politics, but I do have a few points here to build from. What is for certain is that I'll be heading on the journey over to London on Wednesday (for a Liberal Conspiracy gathering) and hope that this subject can be explored in more depth by those that attend.

So the bloody David Davis hand-wringing continues. "Boo hoo, why won't the Lib Dem's stand", "Oh woe is us, DD doesn't fit out 100 point check list of a libertarian so we can't support him", or "Oh dear me, I can't possibly believe an MP can resign on a single principle without a direct hidden agenda!" is all I seem to hear from all but a select few. Quite frankly it's pathetic and getting more so as time goes on. Add to this some usual petty politics and over reactions on the blogs and this issue of 42 days is fast getting absorbed into the ether like a fidget in quicksand.

All it would take is 4 or 5 Labour MPs to change their vote from aye to no to turn the 42 day majority around. So who are the blighters that decided to vote against 90 days but for 42?

The MPs that we need to be asking questions of are... Michael Clapham, Ann Cryer, David Hamilton, Doug Henderson, Siân James, Sadiq Khan, Mark Lazarowicz, Tony Lloyd, Andrew Love, Chris McCafferty, George Mudie, Dennis Skinner, Peter Soulsby and Jon Trickett. These MPs, including at least one who has worked for Liberty, and many that have been all too happy to rebel on issues such as Trident, are the priority as far as I'm concerned. If you live in their constituency or know someone that is get a letter written to them and let's see what their reasoning is.

Across the blogosphere the big question over the last few days has been "will you or won't you?", of course in reference to "backing David Davis" in his by-election campaign.

The political scene seems split, those that supported 42 days are joined by those that were against it as old partisan divisions resurface, the saddest reality being that principles come after party colours no matter how much those colours have run.

So where will I stand?

News comes out today, as it seems to be most days now as Brown tries his hardest to save his career, that Brown is definitely still sticking to his terror plan, as if we didn't bloody well know.

Over at Harry's Place the response to this news is that they of course think that it's not as bad as people are making out...and by the way it isn't as bad as other awful legislation so what are we complaining about, ungrateful souls that we are?

Why not just oppose the legislation as it is, rather than misrepresenting it? The judicial and parliamentary oversight protect people from just being locked up for 42 days for no reason. Why don't critics acknowledge this?

Remember for those that feel liberal, or even left, and actually understand the sensitivity of this issue the you can join many facets of the campaign against the 42 day detenton laws...most of them detailed on Liberal Conspiracy for you to view under "Not a day longer" on the right!

The government is contemplating a total ban on all Zimbabwean sportsmen and women from entering the country to play sport in an effort to try and sway the country in to not re-electing their leader Robert Mugabe. Noble in intention perhaps, but just what is the point of it, and what would it really achieve?

Breaking news is that Lib Dems have walked out of the EU debate in Parliament this evening because the the Speaker had ruled their amendment on having a referendum on inclusion in Europe out of the debate completely. We have a speaker that firstly sets up enquiries in the MPs expenses using only MPs and no outside experts, then it turns out he was never the right person to set up such a body given he spends our money on his air miles and his wifes shopping trips, and now he decides that an amendment pertinent to the publics wishes surrounding this issue is scrapped and not to be heard?

It's one thing to put this amendment forward and for it to be voted down after proper debate, but to not be heard at all? Welcome to British "democracy" in action, and it's not as if we can even call for a vote of no confidence in the speaker of the house given he is the only one with powers to kick his incompetent and corrupt arse from the seat!

I'm trying something new here, not sure if it's going to work as well as intended but here it is. Read more for the transcript of this movie.

With today's news about MPs getting ready to vote on their own pay increase, and in light of only 18.5% of respondents in a poll agreeing with an above 1.9% pay rise (in this case 2.56% spread over two stages), I have to ask what would be the most beneficial and least hypocritical for the members to actually vote on.

Update: So it turns out that not vote took place and the parties all agreed to the sub-inflation pay rise. I can't help but feel cynical that on one hand (and publicly) the opposition parties support the police and other public workers, but in practice know that they would have done the same. Or maybe it was just to maintain the public image of parliament

There is not enough publicity given to consultations, and for as much talking as people like me make on subjects and issues in the blogosphere there aren't enough that actually engage with the processes available and try and do at least a little to influence the outcomes possible. You can see the current Home Office consultations here. If you want to check out a wider range of consultations you can see a linked list of government consultation sites here, just be aware you may need to click around on some sites to find consultations and *some* of the sites will make you want to commit suicide with poor navigation...you've been warned!