Local Euro MP says if David Davis wants to fight on civil liberties he should speak to local Liberal Democrats

12.29.00pm BST (GMT +0100) Sat 14th Jun 2008

Local Euro MP Diana Wallis, who is President of the Haltemprice & Howden Liberal Democrats and who was David Davis's opponent at the 1997 General Election, commenting on his resignation to fight a by-election today:

"When I fought David Davis in 1997 he declined to attend any public debates with other parties. If we are to believe in the depth of his feelings on civil liberties then local Liberal Democrats in this constituency should have the possibility to discuss with him his views. Particularly many would be interested to know for example why there appears to be some ambivalence on the issue of ID cards, an antipathy to the Human Rights Act and downright opposition to the European Charter of Fundamental Rights.

"Civil liberties need some form of constitutional and international underpinning which as a Tory David Davis has up until now resisted.

"Liberal Democrats should have the right as the challenging party in this constituency to consider fully any candidate whom they stand aside for.

"To that effect I am writing to David Davis today to offer him the opportunity to speak to Liberal Democrats locally."

(Photo shows Diana talking to party supporters at Wednesday's Haltemprice & Howden Liberal Democrats fundraising dinner in Skidby)