Haltemprice and Howden by-election, 2008

David Davis MP

The 2008 Haltemprice and Howden by-election was a by-election held in the United Kingdom on 10 July 2008 to elect a new Member of Parliament (MP) for constituency of Haltemprice and Howden. The by-election was triggered by the surprise and controversial resignation from the House of Commons of the sitting MP David Davis on 12 June 2008.

Davis stated intention was to spark a wider public debate on the perceived erosion of civil liberties in the UK by recontesting his seat on this single issue platform, launched as the David Davis for Freedom campaign. The two other main political parties Labour and the Liberal Democrats declined to field candidates, Liberal Democrats as they supported Davis in this issue and Labour as they considered the election a "political stunt". Another minor party, the British National Party, ran no candidate as it supported Davis's stance.

Davis was subsequently re-elected to his seat with 72% of the vote.[1] Davis received 17,113 votes, with the closest challenge coming from the Green Party and English Democrats with 1,758 and 1,714 votes respectively. All other candidates lost their deposit due to polling less than 5% of the vote. Due to the unusual circumstances, the election broke several records, including the highest number of candidates running in a UK parliamentary by-election, the largest number of independents, the largest number of people losing their deposits and the best by-election results up to that point for the Green Party and English Democrats.[2]

While single issue by-elections such as this one were not unprecedented, they were rare in modern political times. As per election law, other candidates were free to stand on their chosen manifesto and not necessarily obliged to oppose or support Davis. Davis's use of a by-election in this way attracted both praise and criticism from politicians, the public and the media, with The Sun newspaper initially considering fielding a candidate to oppose Davis in support of anti-terrorism legislation. The Labour party's non-participation stance attracted specific criticism as appearing to be afraid to debate, following recent poor election results and a record low opinion poll result; while Davis attracted criticism as being vain, wasting public money, and for contesting the issue in his safe seat.

Background

Davis, the then Shadow Home Secretary, announced his intention to resign on 12 June 2008,[3] a day after a House of Commons vote passed the Counter-Terrorism Bill, which would extend the legal detention of terror suspects without charge to a maximum of 42 days. Explaining his actions, Davis stated he intended to spark a wider public debate about the perceived erosion of civil liberties by the then Labour government,[4] which in the following week was launched as the 'David Davis for Freedom campaign'.[5] Culture Secretary Andy Burnham called on Davis to fund the cost of the by-election to the taxpayer, estimated at £80,000, from his own pocket.[6]

Davis had held the seat as a Conservative since its creation in 1997, having previously been MP since 1987 for the predecessor seat of Boothferry. The Conservative position at the time of Davis's resignation aligned with Davis in to opposing the 42 day extension vote, although Davis's decision to resign was characterised as personal and not a shadow cabinet decision, by Conservative leader David Cameron.

The by-election followed a heavy defeat for Labour in the Crewe and Nantwich by-election in May 2008, who were previously the third party in this seat behind the second placed Liberal Democrats. The by-election also follows a previously failed attempt by the Liberal Democrats to target Davis as a high profile seat in a 'decapitation' strategy against the Conservatives in the previous general election of 2005.

Analogous UK parliamentary elections

A small number of previous by-elections have been initiated when the sitting MP resigned on a point of principle and stood for immediate re-election. This has occurred three times since the Second World War, the Lincoln by-election in 1973 and the Mitcham and Morden by-election in 1982 when the sitting MPs changed parties, and in 1986 when fifteen Northern Irish MPs resigned in protest against the Anglo-Irish Agreement. In addition in 1955 Sir Richard Acland resigned with the intention to re-contest Gravesend as an independent in protest against the Labour Party's support for nuclear weapons, but the 1955 general election overtook events and he lost.[7]

At the 1997 general election, neither Labour nor the Liberal Democrats stood against the Conservatives in the seat of Tatton, urging their supporters to back the independent Martin Bell, over the Cash-for-questions affair.[8] Bell defeated Neil Hamilton and won the seat. In both the 2001 and 2005 general elections, the Liberal Democrats did not field a candidate in Wyre Forest, instead supporting the Health Concern candidate Richard Taylor.

Result

Polling took place on 10 July 2008.[1]

Haltemprice and Howden by-election, 2008[9][10]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative David Davis 17,113 71.6 +24.1
Green Shan Oakes 1,758 7.4 N/A
English Democrats Joanne Robinson 1,714 7.2 N/A
National Front Tess Culnane 544 2.3 N/A
Miss Great Britain Party Gemma Garrett 521 2.2 N/A
Independent Jill Saward 492 2.1 N/A
Monster Raving Loony Mad Cow-Girl 412 1.7 N/A
Independent Walter Sweeney 238 1.0 N/A
Independent John Nicholson 162 0.7 N/A
Independent David Craig 135 0.6 N/A
New Party David Pinder 135 0.6 N/A
no label David Icke 110 0.5 N/A
Freedom 4 Choice Hamish Howitt 91 0.4 N/A
Socialist Equality Chris Talbot 84 0.4 N/A
Independent Grace Astley 77 0.3 N/A
Christian George Hargreaves 76 0.3 N/A
Church of the Militant Elvis David Bishop 44 0.2 N/A
Independent John Upex 38 0.2 N/A
Independent Greg Wood 32 0.1 N/A
Independent Eamonn Fitzpatrick 31 0.1 N/A
Make Politicians History Ronnie Carroll 29 0.1 N/A
Independent Thomas Darwood 25 0.1 N/A
Independent Christopher Foren 23 0.1 N/A
Independent Herbert Crossman 11 0.0 N/A
Independent Tony Farnon 8 0.0 N/A
Independent Norman Scarth 8 0.0 N/A
Majority 15,355 64.2 +53.5
Turnout 23,911 34.03 –35.7
Conservative hold Swing N/A

Candidates

The East Riding of Yorkshire Council announced the accepted candidates on Thursday 26 June 2008.[9] At 26, the number of candidates broke the record for a UK parliamentary by-election, previously held by the Newbury by-election, 1993, which had 19 candidates. The greatest number of candidates to have contested a UK general election seat is 15, at Sedgefield in 2005.

Due to the large number of candidates the ballot paper for this election was arranged in two columns.[11] Also, the candidates stood in a line in front of a small platform with the returning officer on it, rather than on a temporary stage as is normally practised because it was feared that the stage would not take the weight of all the candidates.[12]

Christian Party

George Hargreaves stood for the Christian Party and is leader of that party. The party website said "he is asking the Haltemprice and Howden electorate to use their vote to demand a referendum on the European Union, which he believes is the greatest threat to our civil liberties".[13]

Church of the Militant Elvis Party

David Bishop was the candidate for the Church of the Militant Elvis Party. He previously stood for this party in Erewash in the United Kingdom general election, 2005 and in Brentwood and Ongar in 2001.

Conservative

David Davis, MP for the constituency and its predecessor from 1987 until his resignation brought about the by-election, stood as the official Conservative Party candidate.[14] He fought the campaign on the theme David Davis for Freedom.

English Democrats Party

The English Democrats Party selected Joanne Robinson as its candidate.[15] She previously stood as the United Kingdom Independence Party candidate for the same constituency in the 2001 general election.

Freedom 4 Choice

Blackpool based Hamish Howitt was one of two pub landlords who announced intentions to stand under the "Freedom to Choose" label, opposing the smoking ban in England.[16]

Green Party

Shan Oakes was the Green Party candidate. She is also the party's candidate in the 2009 European Parliament elections.[17]

She stood on a civil rights platform, highlighting the measures supported by David Davis that she claimed threaten civil liberties, including his support for the death sentence.[18] David Davis admitted that the Green Party were his most serious contenders in the by-election.[19]

Make Politicians History

Ronnie Carroll, standing for Make Politicians History, is the party's leader and also a twice-defeated Eurovision Song Contest entrant.[20] He stood in Hampstead and Highgate in the United Kingdom general election, 1997 for the "Rainbow Dream Ticket", a predecessor of "Make Politicians History", and in the Uxbridge by-election, 1997 for the ProLife Alliance. He told the VoteWise website he stands for liberating "ourselves from the governing classes, those lords of misrule" [21]

Miss Great Britain Party

The Miss Great Britain Party candidate was Gemma Garrett, following her last place, as an Independent, at the earlier Crewe and Nantwich by-election. The party registered with the Electoral Commission after that election. Garrett expressed opposition to David Davis, declaring herself "happy to be locked up for 42 days if I am a suspect".[22]

National Front

Tess Culnane was the National Front candidate; she was a London Assembly election, 2004 candidate for the British National Party.[23] and a London Assembly election, 2008 candidate for the NF.

The New Party

David Pinder stood for The New Party. He said "Read my lips: what David Davis is saying is that Britain needs a new party".[24]

Official Monster Raving Loony Party

The Official Monster Raving Loony Party's candidate was Rosalyn Warner, known as Mad Cow-Girl.[25] She stood on an indefinite-detention platform, combined with a quote based on Douglas Adams's "Hitchhikers Guide to the Galaxy": "The answer is 42!!! Now we just need to figure out the real question!!!"[25] On BBC Radio 4, they were reported as saying 'because the sensible parties are acting like lunatics in this election, we have decided to come up with sensible policies'. Later she remarked "I may be a loony but I'm not mad enough to want dangerous people to be walking the streets"[22] She has previously stood in Sunderland South in the 2001 and 2005 general elections.

Socialist Equality Party

The Socialist Equality Party stood Chris Talbot as its candidate on a program of "genuine" socialism with a particular emphasis on a defence of "democratic rights".[26] He is a lecturer at the University of Huddersfield and contested South Wales Central in the National Assembly for Wales election, 2007.[27]

Independent candidates


Candidate with no label

David Icke said he would stand for election under the slogan "Big Brother - the Big Picture", but that if elected he would refuse to take the oath of allegiance to the Queen in order to take up his seat.[38] He opted to declare neither a party affiliation nor "Independent", so appeared on the ballot paper with no party label. Icke told the VoteWise website he had "no politics", and David Davis had a "lot he doesn't yet see".[39]

Not standing

Nick Clegg, the leader of the Liberal Democrats, announced that his party would not field a candidate in the by-election as the issue of civil liberties transcends party politics and the Liberal Democrats support Davis's position on the issue, but he said that the party intended to contest the seat as normal at the next general election.[40] The Liberal Democrats came second in the 2005 general election in this seat.

The Labour Party also declared that it would not contest the by-election.[41] In the immediate aftermath of Davis's decision, Prime Minister Gordon Brown called the by-election a "farce", and Davis's opposite number, Home Secretary Jacqui Smith said the Conservative Party was in "disarray".[42] In a statement on the Labour Party's website, NEC Chair, Dianne Hayter, said: "This is a phoney by-election that is completely unnecessary and the Labour Party will not be taking part in what is a political stunt".[43]

The United Kingdom Independence Party (UKIP) did not contest the election.[3] However, one UKIP MEP announced that he would campaign for David Davis if he also addressed issues related to the European Union during his campaign.[44]

The British National Party announced that it would support Davis and not run.[45]

The editor of The Sun newspaper, Rebekah Wade and its proprietor Rupert Murdoch requested in the immediate days following Davis's decision that columnist Kelvin MacKenzie stand against Davis for election. MacKenzie stated "The Sun is very, very hostile to David Davis because of his 28 day stance and The Sun has always been very up for 42 days and perhaps even 420 days."[46] In its editorial The Sun described Davis as deranged.[47] MacKenzie's candidature was soon considered uncertain following an apparently off-the-cuff disparaging remark, when MacKenzie described the nearby city of Kingston upon Hull as "shocking, simply shocking".[48] MacKenzie confirmed on 19 June 2008 that he would not be standing, primarily due to having no financial backing. He urged people to vote instead for Eamonn Fitzpatrick.[49]

History

Constituency history

David Davis has held the constituency for the Conservatives since its creation in 1997, and previously held the predecessor seat of Boothferry from 1987. The area of the seat, variously covered in the past by parts of Boothferry, Howden, Haltemprice, Howdenshire and East Riding of Yorkshire, has been consistently represented by Conservative MPs since the 1837 general election.

Davis's majority fell back to 4.3% in the 2001 general election and the seat became a Liberal Democrat target.[50] However, Davis increased his majority to 10.7% in the 2005 general election.[51]

General Election 2005: Haltemprice and Howden[51]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative David Davis 22,792 47.5 +4.3
Liberal Democrat Jon Neal 17,676 36.8 –2.1
Labour Edward Hart 6,104 12.7 –3.0
BNP John Mainprize 798 1.7 N/A
UKIP Philip Lane 659 1.4 –0.8
Majority 5,116 10.7 +6.4
Turnout 48,029 70.1 +4.3
Conservative hold Swing +3.2

By-election records

The nature of Davis's resignation resulted in a number of by-election records and unusual occurrences. Most notably, at 26, the election saw a record number of candidates and a record number of independent candidates standing for an election in the UK.[52] 23 of them, including all independents, lost their deposit, also a record.[2] The Labour Party's decision not to put forward a candidate meant this was the first Great British by-election since the Bristol South East in 1963 (in which the Conservative Party did not stand) in which the governing party has not stood a candidate and the first Great British by-election without a Labour candidate since the Combined English Universities by-election, 1946.

Davis's result saw the biggest increase in share of the vote, up 24.1%, for a Conservative by-election candidate since 1945. The Green Party and the English Democrats Party both gained record high by-election vote percentages at 7.4% and 7.2%, and second and third place respectively.[2] This is also the highest percentage vote for the English Democrats at any parliamentary election.

References

  1. 1 2 "UK Parliament Elections Page".
  2. 1 2 3 "A record-breaking by-election?". BBC News. 11 July 2008. Retrieved 11 July 2008.
  3. 1 2 "David Davis resigns from Commons". BBC News Online (BBC). 13 June 2008. Retrieved 25 June 2008.
  4. ↑ Wintour, Partick (13 June 2008). "Tories aghast as Davis quits to wage lone war on 42 days". The Guardian (London: Guardian News and Media Limited). Retrieved 25 June 2008.
  5. ↑ "David Davis For Freedom". Duncan Gilmour. June 2008. Retrieved 7 July 2008.
  6. ↑ "Davis 'should fund by-election'". BBC News Online (BBC). 18 June 2008. Retrieved 26 June 2008.
  7. ↑ Andrew Sparrow (12 June 2008). "David Davis: Other MPs who resigned to fight byelections". London: The Guardian. Retrieved 27 June 2008.
  8. ↑ "Man-in-white stands for Euro seat". BBC News Online (BBC). 5 March 2004. Retrieved 18 June 2008.
  9. 1 2 East Riding of Yorkshire Council (26 June 2008). "Statement as to persons nominated and notice of poll" (PDF). Retrieved 26 June 2008.
  10. ↑ "Haltemprice and Howden: Result in full". BBC News (British Broadcasting Corporation). 11 July 2008. Retrieved 11 July 2008.
  11. ↑ Isaby, Jonathan (27 June 2008). "Haltemprice and Howden's ballot paper conundrum". Telegraph Blogs (London). Retrieved 9 July 2008.
  12. ↑ "By-election stage collapse fears". BBC. 10 July 2008. Retrieved 10 July 2008.
  13. ↑ Warren, Paula (26 June 2008). "Christian Party leader to stand in Haltemprice & Howden". The Christian Party website. Archived from the original on 12 May 2008. Retrieved 30 June 2008.
  14. ↑ Porter, Andrew David Davis to resign from shadow cabinet and as MP, Daily Telegraph, 12 June 2008, accessed 12 June 2008 See also: "Haltemprice & Howden". Conservative Party (UK). Archived from the original on 19 June 2008. Retrieved 11 July 2008.
  15. ↑ "Haltemprice and Howden" (Press release). English Democrats Party. Retrieved 23 June 2008.
  16. ↑ "Smoke rebels to stand in by-election". Retrieved 13 June 2008. See also: "Haltemprice and Howden". UK Polling Report. Retrieved 13 June 2008.
  17. ↑ "Shan Oakes - The real civil liberties candidate". GP Blog. Retrieved 24 June 2008. See also: "Haltemprice and Howden". UKPollingReport. Retrieved 20 June 2008. and "Shan Oakes, EU 2009 candidate". Yorkshire and Humber Green Party. Retrieved 20 June 2008.
  18. ↑ "Voters terrify Brown, says Davis". BBC News. 27 June 2008. Retrieved 27 June 2008.
  19. ↑ "Grey meets Green in by-election showdown". Shan Oakes - The real civil liberties candidate. 26 June 2008. Retrieved 27 August 2008.
  20. ↑ White, Roland (15 June 2008). "Davis’s by-election is reminiscent of Blackadder and B’Stard". Sunday Times (London). Retrieved 15 June 2008.
  21. ↑ "Ronnie Carroll is standing for the Make Politicians History". VoteWise. Retrieved 11 July 2008.
  22. 1 2 Watson, Iain (11 July 2008). "Did David Davis keep his dignity?". BBC News. Retrieved 12 July 2008.
  23. 1 2 3 4 "Halifax Courier".
  24. ↑ "A new party for Britain". Retrieved 29 June 2008.
  25. 1 2 "Madcows Statement". Archived from the original on 15 June 2008. Retrieved 13 June 2008.
  26. ↑ "Britain: SEP to stand in Haltemprice and Howden by-election". World Socialist Web Site. 23 June 2008. Retrieved 22 June 2008.
  27. 1 2 "Haltemprice and Howden". Retrieved 29 June 2008.
  28. ↑ "Double identity of David Davis challenger". Retrieved 16 June 2008.
  29. ↑ "Herbert Winford Crossman is standing as an Independent". VoteWise. Retrieved 11 July 2008.
  30. ↑ "TOM DARWOOD - Independent Candidate for the Haltemprice & Howden by-election of 10 July 2008". The Reformation Pary. Retrieved 7 July 2008.
  31. ↑ "Tony Farnon is standing as an Independent". VoteWise. Retrieved 11 July 2008.
  32. ↑ Percival, Jenny (19 June 2008). "MacKenzie explains decision not to stand in David Davis byelection". London: The Guardian. Retrieved 19 June 2008.
  33. ↑ "Trader set to stand against Davis". BBC News. 16 June 2008. Retrieved 16 June 2008.
  34. ↑ http://www.saward.org/Articles/haltemprice.htm
  35. ↑ "Rape campaigner by-election bid". BBC News. 25 June 2008. Retrieved 25 June 2008. See also: "Campaigners set to fight Davis by-election". Yorkshire Post. 25 June 2008. Retrieved 25 June 2008. and "Icke and Saward may contest by-election". East Anglia Daily Times. 25 June 2008. Retrieved 25 June 2008. and "Latest by-election contenders revealed". Driffield Times and Post. 25 June 2008. Archived from the original on 12 October 2008. Retrieved 25 June 2008.
  36. ↑ "Well, it's now official. Or rather it will be at 4:00 p.m. this afternoon...". Jill Saward. 26 June 2008. Retrieved 26 June 2008.
  37. ↑ Greg Wood By-election Literature
  38. ↑ "David Icke to stand in "Big Brother" election". David Icke website. Archived from the original on 11 May 2008. Retrieved 25 June 2008.
  39. ↑ "David Icke is standing for the None (No Party)". VoteWise. Retrieved 11 July 2008.
  40. ↑ "Liberal Democrat press release".
  41. ↑ "Labour won't stand against Davis". BBC News. 18 June 2008. Retrieved 19 June 2008.
  42. ↑ Reaction: Davis resignation BBC News accessed 14 June 2008
  43. ↑ "Statement from Dianne Hayter". Labour Party (UK). Retrieved 11 July 2008.
  44. ↑ "UKIP MEP applauds Davis stand".
  45. ↑ "David Davis Power Play BNP". Archived from the original on 10 November 2008. Retrieved 15 June 2008.
  46. ↑ Thomas, Vikki (13 June 2008). "Ex-Sun man to challenge Davis". The Sun (London). Retrieved 13 June 2008. The Sun columnist said he was approached by the paper's proprietor Rupert Murdoch and current editor Rebekah Wade who suggested he could step up to the challenge." ""The Sun is very hostile to David Davis because of his stand," he said. See also: "Queen in by-election clash fear". BBC News Online (BBC). 20 June 2008. Retrieved 26 June 2008. and "Ex-Sun Editor to "take on" Davis". BBC News Online (BBC). 13 June 2008. Retrieved 13 June 2008.
  47. ↑ "Has David Davis gone stark raving mad?". The Sun. 13 June 2008. pp. editorial.
  48. ↑ "Former Sun editor has second thoughts about taking on Tory rebel Davis". Mail on Sunday (London). 14 June 2008. Retrieved 15 June 2008.
  49. ↑ Kelvin MacKenzie (19 June 2008). "I have been to Hull and back". The Sun (London). Retrieved 20 June 2008.
  50. ↑ "General Election result, June 2001". Political Science Resources. Richard Kimber. Retrieved 25 June 2008.
  51. 1 2 "UK General Election results May 2005". Political Science Resources. Richard Kimber. Retrieved 25 June 2008.
  52. ↑ "Guide: The Haltemprice hopefuls". BBC News. 2 July 2008. Retrieved 9 July 2008.

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