2008 Haltemprice and Howden by-election predecessor from 1987 until his resignation brought about the by-election, stood as the official Conservative Party candidate. He fought the campaign on the theme David Davis for Freedom. The English Democrats Party selected Joanne Robinson as its candidate. She previously stood as the United Kingdom Independence Party candidate for the same constituency in the 2001 general election. 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. Shan Oakes was the Green Party candidate. She is also the party's candidate in the 2009
Stroud and Thornbury (UK Parliament constituency) Standish, Upton St Leonards, and Whitminster. Stroud and Thornbury (UK Parliament constituency) Stroud and Thornbury was a county constituency represented in the House of Commons of the Parliament of the United Kingdom. It elected one Member of Parliament (MP) by the first past the post system of election. The constituency was created for the 1950 general election and abolished for the 1955 general election. The Urban Districts of Nailsworth and Stroud, the Rural Districts of Dursley, Stroud, and Thornbury, and in the Rural District of Gloucester the civil parishes of Arlingham, Brookthorpe, Eastington, Elmore, Frampton-on-Severn, Fretherne with Saul, Frocester, Hardwicke,