David Ottewell's Politics

David Davis: at least he got to stand next to Gemma Garrett…
Looks like David Davis won’t be returning to the shadow cabinet after cruising to victory in the Haltemprice and Howden by-election last night – albeit with 5,000 fewer votes than last time.
David Cameron said today: “Obviously, I will talk to him [Mr Davis] about what the future holds, but I have a very strong shadow cabinet.
“David is a very strong Conservative and a very big figure in our party and I’m sure there are all sorts of ways in which he will be able to contribute in the future.”
So that’s that. Mr Davis is back in parliament, and the 42-days agenda hasn’t really been moved on at all. It’s all rather puzzling.
Either Mr Davis really did do this purely on a point of principle, in which case his action (since it hasn’t changed much) seems intemperate.
Or he’s had a falling out with Mr Cameron, in which case – since Mr Cameron won’t be going anywhere soon, and shadow home secretary is one of the best jobs outside the leadership to showcase your skills – his action seems intemperate.
Either way… ah, but you get the point.
The mood I’m picking up from Tories up here is a mixture of bafflement, indulgence and (privately) slight embarrassment. The kind of reaction you get when a normally teetotal great-aunt has a few too many sips of champagne and starts dancing at a wedding. Not a good thing, by and large.

According to a new survey from moneysupermarket.com, 9 per cent of adult Brits don’t know that Spain is in the European Union.
That’s bad.
What’s more, the company says, 73 per cent of adults don’t know how many countries are in the EU.
That’s ba–
No, hang on! It’s brilliant! Look at it the other way round. More than one in four people know how many countries are in the EU! I would have guessed the figure would have been one in ten, at best.
Let’s face it, there are some British adults who can’t even boil and egg or tie their own shoelaces, let alone keep abreast of the latest developments in Brussels. One in four is an excellent result. Well done, British adults!
[Incidentally, I'd never normally mention a poll like this. Why? Because they always come with terrible and irrelevant quotes attached. For instance in this case, James Parker, commercial manager of broadband and mobiles at moneysupermarket.com, said: "Check with your operator before you head off on your holiday as to how much calls will cost and if you can change to an international tariff while you’re away. A huge mobile phone bill on your return home would not be much of a Turkish delight."]

Full council meeting day in Wigan
Some good news for Labour in Wigan.
They have held on to the Wigan West ward, sparked by the death of former councillor Michael Baines.
Result in full:
Steve Dawber (Lab) 817
Jonathan Cartwright (Con) 528
Trevor Beswick (Lib Dem) 344
Christopher Hilton (BNP) 200
Keith Jones (UKIP) 124
Sandy Franzen (Community Action) 118
The council now has 42 Labour members, 11 Democratic Alliance (including 7 CAP and 4 Lib Dems), 10 Conservatives, eight Independents and four Independent Conservatives.
There are no councillors from the People’s Front of Judea or the Judean People’s Front, although many of us think it is only a matter of time.
Oh, and the bad news? Turnout was 21 per cent. iPod raffle, anyone?