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It has been announced that Dominic Grieve, Conservative MP for Beaconsfield, will take over from David Davis as shadow home secretary following David Davis' resignation today.

Davis resigned in order to force a by-election in his Haltemprice and Howden constituency which he will fight on the issue of the new 42-day terror detention limit.

Liberal Democrat leader Nick Clegg, has confirmed that the party will not put up a candidate in the by-election.

Clegg said: “David Davis' decision to resign his seat and fight a by-election over the issue of 42 days is a dramatic move. I am grateful to him for having informed me following the vote of his intention to take this step.

“The Liberal Democrats have consistently opposed this unnecessary and illiberal proposal which poses a threat so serious to British liberties that it transcends party politics.

“I have therefore decided, after consultation with the party nationally and locally, that we will not stand a candidate at the forthcoming by-election which will be contested by David Davis solely on this issue.

“The Liberal Democrats will of course fight the Haltemprice and Howden seat as vigorously as ever at the next general election.”

Dominic Grieve has been hailed as a ‘star performer’ by Tory Leader David Cameron, whoc stressed that the work of the Shadow Home Secretary on knife crime, anti-social behaviour, alcohol and crime policy in general, must go on.