2008 Haltemprice and Howden by-election 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, which in the following week was launched as the 'David Davis for Freedom campaign'. 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. Davis had held the seat as a Conservative since its creation in 1997, having previously been MP since 1987 for the
Kingston upon Hull West and Hessle (UK Parliament constituency) Kingston upon Hull West and Hessle (UK Parliament constituency) Kingston upon Hull West and Hessle (usually just Hull West and Hessle) is a constituency represented in the House of Commons of the UK Parliament since the 2017 general election by Emma Hardy of the Labour Party. If the Boundary Commission's 2018 boundary change proposal is approved, the seat is set to be abolished in the next election after 2018, being replaced by a new seat named 'Hull West & Haltemprice'. The constituency was created in 1997, mostly from the former seat of Hull West as Hessle joined from the former