David Davis: It is incumbent upon me to take a stand

In a statement outside Parliament today, David Davis MP said:

"The name of my constituency is Haltemprice and Howden. The word Haltemprice is derived from the motto of a medieval priory, and in Old French it means "Noble Endeavour".

I had always viewed membership of this House as a noble ...

David Davis: 42 days - the worst of all worlds

Speaking in the remaining stages of the Counter Terrorism Bill, Shadow Home Secretary, David Davis, said:

"Mr Deputy Speaker, I rise to speak in opposition to the government's new clauses and to support amendments 4 and 5 to remove 42 days from the Bill.

Today there are essentially two ...

David Davis: Flanagan Review a shocking indictment of Labour failure

Responding to Jacqui Smith's statement on the Flanagan Police Review, Shadow Home Secretary, David Davis, said:

"I thank the Home Secretary for advance sight of her statement.

I am glad to say it was not lost in the post.

I would also like to thank Sir Ronnie for his ...

David Davis: Home Office putting avoiding political embarrassment ahead of public safety

Responding to Jacqui Smith's statement on the SIA shambles, Shadow Home Secretary, David Davis, said:

"Mr Speaker, I thank the Home Secretary for advance sight of her statement. When Gordon Brown became leader of the Labour Party he heralded:

'…a different type of politics - a more open and honest ...

David Davis: There are better ways to protect our security than giving away our freedoms

Speaking in the Home Affairs & Justice section of the Queen's Speech debate, Shadow Home Secretary, David Davis, said:

"Mr Speaker, the Government has approached the Queen's Speech in each of the last ten years under the misguided assumption that it can meet the challenges Britain faces by ...

David Davis: It is time to start mending our broken society

Addressing the Conservative Party Conference today, Shadow Home Secretary David Davis said:

"When I listened to that extraordinary speech from Gordon Brown last week, I was reminded that this man was the grand architect of Blairism.

And yet again he was trying to execute the first principle of Blairism:

"You ...

Davis: Prisons with a purpose

In his speech to the Conservative Party Conference, Shadow Home Secretary, David Davis said:

"This year it would be too easy to spend the first half of this speech getting some laughs and a clap or two out of a government that's lost 2 Home Secretaries in 2 years ...

Davis: change the Party, transform the country

Speaking to the Conservative Party Conference today David Davis said:

"David Cameron wants to change the Conservative Party.

I'm speaking today because I'd like to tell you why I agree with him.

There is one change that I want to see more than any other.

A change of ...

David Davis: The Walk On By Society

Speaking in Manchester today at the Conservative Spring Forum, Shadow Home Secretary David Davis said:

"A while ago, a couple of my friends were berating me for being too tough on Charles Clarke.

"After all," one said," if you went on the street and sold 6 ounces of cannabis, you ...

David Davis response to police reform proposals

Speaking this afternoon in response to the Home Secretary Charles Clarke's plans to merge existing police forces, Shadow Home Secretary David Davis said:

Check against delivery

The matter we are debating this afternoon - the prospective reduction of 43 police forces to 12 regional forces - is enormously important.

The constitutional ...

Davis: Creating a new spirit of enterprise

Speech to the Confederation of British Industry

"It's a long time since two Conservative Shadow Cabinet ministers had the honour - and pleasure - of addressing a CBI Conference.

I'm sure David Cameron is as delighted as I am to be here this morning.

He and I have been spending ...

Davis: A Conservative way to make poverty history

Speech at the Centre for Social Justice

"Tonight I want to talk about the hungry world beyond our shores and I want to talk about the themes of my leadership campaign.

My leadership campaign has had three overlapping themes:

One: The Conservative Party must offer an agenda that is 'good ...

Davis: Reaching out to the new communities of modern Britain

Speech to Newmarket Conservatives

"Recently, I have been setting out clear politics to improve the lives of people across Britain, but today I would like to talk about how we take the first step towards delivering those goals.

Because the truth is that without updating our party organisation of fighting ...

Davis: We must champion the victims of Labour failure

Speech in Maidstone, Kent

"In 1979 the British people turned to the Conservative Party because the nation was in trouble.

Militant trade union barons had captured James Callaghan's Labour government.

Rising inflation and rising taxes were the result.

Over the coming years the Conservative government rescued Britain from economic ...

Davis: Keeping our country and our fundamental freedoms safe

Speech in the House of Commons on the 2nd Reading of the Terrorism Bill

"Mr Speaker, this debate is part of a process that began before the 7th of July, but took on a new urgency after it.

On that day, we met to pay tribute to those who lost ...

Davis: Conservatives must walk tall again

Speech to Conservative Party Conference 2005

"There are moments in history when normal politics has to stop.

Ten to nine on 7th July this year was just such a moment.

Four bombs went off in London killing over 50 people.

The aim of the terrorists was to divide us. But ...

Davis: I want us to be the party of hope

The 2005 Reform Lecture made at Conservative Party Conference

"Last month I said that what I want to bring to this Party is a new Tory idealism. Today I want to try to explain more of what I mean.

There are two sorts of idealists. First, there are those who ...

Davis: A modern Conservative vision

Speech announcing Conservative leadership bid

"I am today announcing my intention to stand for the leadership of the Conservative Party.

I'm doing so because I believe that I am the candidate most capable of shaping an agenda for change, of uniting the Party, and of winning the next election ...

Davis: Britain's Place in the World

Speech to Chatham House

"It is a great pleasure to be able to address this distinguished audience. The name of Chatham House is, itself, a reminder that Britain has been a power with global interests for two and a half centuries.

Palmerston, another national colossus, once described this country's ...

Davis: Creating an opportunity society

Speech at the IPPR

"I am very aware that a few eyebrows will be raised by a Conservative speaking to the IPPR about the way we organise our country. Surely it must be a very big tent indeed that can encompass the aims of a centre left thinktank and a ...

David Davis: Modern Conservatism

Speech to the Centre for Policy Studies

"It's a particular pleasure to be here this evening at the invitation of the Centre for Policy Studies.

The CPS helped to lead a Conservative revival during the last decades of the twentieth century.

It did so by helping to win the ...

Davis: From immigration to street crime, Labour have lost control

Speech in response to the Queen's Speech in the House of Commons

"The Opposition welcome at least three proposals in this massive Queen's Speech.

Firstly, there are some of the powers proposed to deal with terrorism.

We have been calling for an offence of Acts Preparatory to Terrorism ...

Davis: Conservative action on crime

Speech at Conservative Campaign Headquarters

"Yesterday the Home Office announced that violent crime rose by 9 per cent. That's not just a statistic, as everyone can see from today's newspapers.

Mr Blair's complacent response to the rise in violent crime is to say crime is falling and ...

Davis: A Conservative Government will drive crime out

Speech at Conservative Campaign Headquarters

"First, we'll start by recruiting more police and cutting back on their paperwork.

Paperwork is the enemy of police work.

Unfortunately, that's something this Labour government doesn't seem to understand.

Overstretched police officers trying to control disorder in town centres on Saturday ...

Davis: Securing Britain's borders

Press Conference at Conservative Campaign Headquarters

"Our aim is clear - to secure Britain's borders so that we can:

- Limit immigration;

- Fight crime; and

- Protect Britain from terrorism.

Now let me explain the details.

There are four main ways in which illegal immigrants get into Britain.

Conservatives will take action ...

Davis: Controlled Immigration and a firm but fair asylum system

"Britain's asylum system is a chaotic shambles.

Most people who claim asylum in the UK are not genuine refugees.

Only two in 10 applicants are actually granted asylum, while less than another two in 10 are granted "Humanitarian Protection".

And, despite all Mr Blair's promises, only just over ...

Davis: Controlled immigration and a firm but fair asylum system

Speech to Conservative Campaign Headquarters

"Britain's asylum system is a chaotic shambles.

Most people who claim asylum in the UK are not genuine refugees.

Only two in 10 applicants are actually granted asylum, while less than another two in 10 are granted "Humanitarian Protection".

And, despite all Mr Blair ...

Davis: Action on drugs and crime

Speech to Conservative Party Conference 2004

"As Conservatives we have a clear idea of what constitutes good government.

And the very first duty of government is to uphold the law and to make the citizens secure.

Labour just can't grasp that. Their priorities are all wrong. They permit what ...

David Davis: Rebalancing justice in favour of active citizens

Speech to the Association of Chief Police Officers conference in Birmingham

"It gives me great pleasure to address your conference today. May I thank Carol Gustafson for her warm introduction, and ACPO for inviting me to be here today.

I have enjoyed meeting a number of you over the last ...

David Davis: "Young and hopeful"

Speech to Conservative Party Spring Conference 2004

"I, like so many other parents and grandparents, have pictures of my children in my office.

But I am very lucky.

Because as a Member of Parliament I have the chance to try and make the world a better place for them to ...

David Davis: "Comfortable Life"

Speech to Conservative Party Spring Conference 2004

"This morning I spoke about perhaps the greatest threat to the future of our young people: the threat of drugs. I said drug crime costs the Government more than we spend on education.

That's a net loss to our nation and a ...

Davis: A fair deal for local communities

Speech to Conservative Party Conference 2003

"It's now over six years since John, Tony and Gordon came to power.

And wasn't it nice to see them getting on so well together at Bournemouth last week?

Do you remember how, back in '97, they danced into Downing Street, promising ...

Davis: Putting People First

It's a pleasure to be shadowing the Deputy Prime Minister, John Prescott. We've got more in common than you might think. He represents a seat in East Yorkshire. I represent a seat in East Yorkshire. I hate New Labour. He hates New Labour. He's got two Jags ...

Davis: Conservatives aim to help the vulnerable

Speech to Conservative Spring Forum 2002

I am sure that I will speaking on everyone's behalf when I say that it would be wrong to start this conference without first sending our thoughts and best wishes to Margaret Thatcher who has been ill in the last few weeks.

But ...

Davis: Tony Blair practices politics without probity and power without priorities

Speaking at the Conservative Local Government Conference in Watford, the Conservative Party Chairman, the Rt Hon David Davis MP, said:

"Chairman, ladies and gentlemen, I am delighted to be here with you today at the beginning of the conference. A conference at which we have the opportunity to express our ...

Davis: Conservative proposal to rein in political advisers

In a speech to the Newspaper Society in London, the Chairman of the Conservative Party, the Rt Hon David Davis MP, said:

"In a few weeks we will celebrate 5 years of New Labour in power. Even as we speak, glossy proofs of a Government 5-year Report will be lying ...

Davis: We cannot accept second rate public services

In a speech to the Conservative Party Conference in Blackpool this afternoon, the Rt Hon David Davis MP, the Chairman of the Party, said:

"Not since 1984 in Brighton, when the Conservative Party lost so many friends and family, has our conference been so dominated by our determination that terrorism ...