2008 By-election

Formerly Shadow Home Secretary, David Davis announced his intention on the 12th June to resign and fight a by-election on the issue of 42 detention of terrorist suspects. The election was held on the 10th July. The Liberal Democrats, who also opposed the legislation declined to stand against him and Labour, branding his actions a stunt, also declined to put up a candidate. Initially former editor of the Sun Kelvin Mackenzie indicated he would stand as an independent pro-42 days candidate, backed by the Sun newspaper, but eventually withdrew. Parties such as the BNP and UKIP also said they will not put up candidates, leaving Davis only the Green party and frivilous, fringe and independent candidates opposing him. There was a record field of 26 candidates, only three of whom retained their deposits and Davis was easily returned.

By-election result:

David Davis (Conservative) 17113 (71.6%)
Shan Oakes (Green) 1758 (7.4%)
Joanne Robinson (Eng Dem) 1714 (7.2%)
Tess Culnane (Nat Front) 544 (2.3%)
Gemma Garrett (Miss GB) 521 (2.2%)
Jill Saward (Independent) 492 (2.1%)
Mad Cow-Girl (OMRLP) 412 (1.7%)
Walter Sweeney (Independent) 238 (1.0%)
John Nicholson (Independent) 162 (0.7%)
David Craig (Independent) 135 (0.6%)
David Pinder (New Party) 135 (0.6%)
David Icke (No description) 110 (0.5%)
Hamish Howitt (F4C) 91 (0.4%)
Chris Talbot (Soc Equality) 84 (0.4%)
Grace Astley (Independent) 77 (0.3%)
George Hargreaves (Christian) 76 (0.3%)
David Bishop (Militant Elvis) 44 (0.2%)
John Upex (Independent) 38 (0.2%)
Greg Wood (Independent) 32 (0.1%)
Eamonn Fitzpatrick (Independent) 31 (0.1%)
Ronnie Carroll (Make Politicians History) 29 (0.1%)
Thomas Darwood (Independent) 25 (0.1%)
Christopher Foren (Independent) 23 (0.1%)
Herbert Crossman (Independent) 11 (0.0%)
Tony Farnon (Independent) 8 (0.0%)
Norman Scarth (Independent) 8 (0.0%)
Majority: 15335 (64.2%)

By-election Candidates:
David Davis (Conservative) born 1948, York. Educated at Bec Grammar School and Warwick University. Former senior executive with Tate and Lyle and member of the territorial army’s SAS regiment. First elected as MP for Boothferry in 1987. Government whip and later Minister of State in the foreign officer 1994-1997. He did not serve on the Conservative front bench under William Hague, instead chairing the Public Accounts Committee. He contested the 2001 leadership election finishing fourth. Conservative party chairman 2001-2002, shadow deputy Prime Minister 2002-2003. Following Iain Duncan Smith’s removal as leader Davis was expected to stand, but instead stood aside to allow Michael Howard to become leader without a contest. He served as shadow Home secretary under Howard and was the clear front runner to succeed him in 2005, but after what was seen as a lacklustre conference speech he was eclipsed by David Cameron and ended up finishing as runner up in the 2005 leadership election. He continued as shadow home secretary until his shock resignation from the Commons over the issue of 42 day detention.
Shan Oakes (Green) Educated at Plympton Grammar School and Leicester University. Former English teacher and LEA officer.
Joanne Robinson (English Democrats) born 1957. Office manager. Contested Haltemprice and Howden 2001 for UKIP.
Mad Cow-Girl (Official Monster Raving Loony) Real name Rosalyn Warner. Born 1961, Harwich. Registered nurse. Contested Sunderland South 2001, 2005.
Chris Talbot (Socialist Equality) born Runcorn. Engineering mathematics lecturer at Huddersfield University. Contested South Wales Central list in 2007 Welsh elections.
Gemma Garrett (Miss Great Britain) Miss Great Britain for the year 2008, having been runner up in the previous year’s competition. Contested Crewe and Nantwich by-election 2008.
Ronnie Carroll (Make Politicans History) born 1934, Belfast. Singer and entertainer. British entrant to the Eurovision Song Contest in 1962 and 1963. Having previously moved into management released several comeback records after Contested Hampstead and Highgate 1997, Uxbridge by-election 1997, Hartlepool by-election 2004.
Hamish Howitt (Freedom 4 Choice) Blackpool publican who in 2007 was the first to be prosecuted for continuing to allow smoking in his pub. Will contest Blackpool South at the next general election.
David Craig (Independent) real name Neil Glass. Educated at Fettes and Cambridge University. Former management consultant turned author and campaigner against government waste.
Jill Saward (Independent) born 1965, Liverpool. Educated at Lady Margaret School. Victim of the Ealing Vicarage Rape in 1986, she later went public, authored a book called “Rape: My Story” and has campaigned on behalf of rape victims.
David Icke (No description) born 1952, Leicester. Former professional footballer, forced to retire early through ill health he became a television sports presenter. He became a national media spokesman for the Green party, but in 1990 believes he received a message from the spirit world which lead to him infamously appearing on the Wogan chatshow, dressed in turquoise, to declare that he was a son of God with a message from the Godhead. He has subsequently pursued a career as a new age philosopher, speaker and author of conspiracy books, expressing his beliefs about the apocalypse, illuminanti and that prominent world leaders are reptilian shape-shifters. Is contesting the seat on an abstentionist platform.
Eamonn Fitzpatrick (Independent) Fruit and veg market trader. Contested Northampton South 2005.
George Hargreaves (Christian Party) born George Jackman in 1958. Educated at Woolverstone Hall School and Oxford University. Former songwriter, most famously penning Sinitta’s “So Macho”, now Pastor of the Hephizibah Christian Centre, Hackney. Contested Walthamstow for the Referendum Party in 1997. Contested 2004 Birmingham Hodge Hill by-election for Operation Christian Vote. Contested Scotland in 2004 European elections for Operation Christian Vote. Contested Na h-Eileanan an Lar 2005, Dunfermline and West Fife by-election 2006.
Norman Scarth (Independent) born 1925. Retired stud farmer. Gaoled for six years in 2001 for wounding with intent after attacking a baliff with a chainsaw. Contested Chesterfield in 1997 as an Independent Old Age Pensioner, Sedgefield by-election 2007 as an anti-crime candidate.
Walter Sweeney (Independent) born 1949. Educated at Lawrence Sheriff School and Cambridge and Hull Universities. Solicitor. Bedfordshire county councillor 1981-1989. Contested Machester Stretford 1983. Conservative MP for Vale of Glamorgan 1992-1997.
Tess Culnane (National Front) Contested 2004 GLA election and European election for the BNP. Contested Greenwich and Lewisham in 2008 London elections.
Grace Astley (Independent) Educated at Darwen Vale High School and Royal Holloway. Supply teacher.
David Bishop (Church of the Militant Elvis) Painter, decorator and poet - writing under the pen name of Lord Biro. Contested Tatton 1997, Brentwood and Ongar 2001, Erewash 2005.
Herbert Crossman (Independent) Former Liberal Democrat councillor in Harrow. Contested Harrow West for the Referendum Party in 1997. Member of the Conservative party 1998-1999.
Thomas Darwood (Independent) religious publisher. Claims to be the true Archbishop of Canterbury, Pope and heir to the throne.
Tony Farnon (Independent) Promoting an anti-smoking website.
Christopher Foren (Independent) Retired crown prosecutor. Standing on a platform of putting the environment ahead of economic growth and limiting population growth.
John Nicholson (Independent) Former pig farmer. Standing as a independent conservative. Publisher of a early years education system.
David Pinder (New Party) Former soldier, civil servant and Chamber of Commerce chief executive.
John Upex (Independent) born Leeds. Businessman, running a manufacturing company. Contested Wakefield 2005 for UKIP.
Greg Wood (Independent) Former Royal Navy medical officer.
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