Davis resigned in order to provoke a by-election, thus enabling him to put a clear choice before the people of Haltemprice and Howden - 42 days detention, yes or no.  So what?  Well, by provoking the by-election Davis has implicitly reminded us that the votes taken by Members of Parliament in many cases bear no reflection of the views of those individuals the MPs apparently represent.  The reality is that the British form of democracy creates almost no incentive for MPs to vote as their constituents might desire.  As a result, the decisions taken in parliament do not necessarily reflect the wishes of the people. 

In the United States on the other hand Congressmen and Senators are left in no doubt as to how they should vote on matters of importance.  They are left in no doubt because the spectre of a primary challenge is never far away and the prospect of a challenger prepared to exploit a less than perfect voting record hangs heavy in the mind. 

Perhaps it’s time we took a hard look at the job our MPs do and ask ourselves a question as simple as that put before the voters of Haltemprice and Howden – should MPs be there to represent the views of those who put them in parliament or to take decisions without reference to the wishes of the people?