Has David Davis boobed?

Perhaps time will tell, when all the dust has settled.

What is true is that several people who ought to know better have misrepresented the case.

The Daily Telegraph journalist who falsely reported that Davis was not invited to David Cameron's morning meetings, when in fact he was regularly there and even chaired the meetings when the leader and William Hague were not there, also misrepresented Liam Fox and quoted words he did not say.

Her objective seem to have been to have been to make David Davis appear to act out of pique or a sense of alienation. Others, in his constituency and elsewhere know him better, have doubted this reason for risking his whole career.

Other critics have claimed that he is on an ego trip which will damage his party. There are suggestions that Cameron tried repeatedly to dissuade him. His local party, and his electors in his constituency in a poll, are in support. Two Labour MPs, the maverick Bob Marshall-Andrews and Dr. Gibson, and possibly others, are contemplating supporting him, and this morning the highly respected Colonel Collins has announced that he will actively campaign for David Davis.

His stand seems to have struck a cord with people from all parts of the political spectrum. Many of these had felt concerns over the slow process of emasculation of our freedoms, and it made the 42 day result, and the way it was purchased, the final straw. They are applauding a politician with principles who is prepared to risk losing a seat on the Westminster gravy train.

David Davis has a long track record in resisting the removal of liberties - reduction of trial by jury included., but also CCTV, identity cards and databases. This was the point when he had to say "Enough!" Perhaps it was a final exasperation which made him want to open up a national debate.

Will there be a national debate? Certainly for a few weeks while he campaigns it will be in the news. How long it will last depends on other issues which may arise, but things will never quite be the same.

Will he be re-elected? It seems very likely, but there is always the risk.

If he is re-elected will he be on the front bench again? This is more difficult, but the fact that his successor as Shadow Home Secretary has already suggested that the Tories should seek to reduce the present 28 days may indicate that the Party is moving to reassert "Magna Carta and all that". He comes from a very different strand of the Party.

David Cameron may decide that he would prefer to have Davis in his team, even if with a different portfolio, rather than offering a possible focus and rallying point for disaffected right wingers. Davis has a formidable record in confounding and removing members of the Government opposite him, and the Party can ill afford not to use his fighting talents.

Has he boobed? Who can say for the moment? It may be indicative that some journalists who condemned his action initially for different reasons now begin the moderate their tone.