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
European Parliament Committee on Civil Liberties, Justice and Home Affairs Party of Germany (NPD) who has praised Adolf Hitler, joined the committee as a non-attached member in July 2014, sparking outrage from European Parliament President Martin Schulz, the European Jewish Congress, and the European Network Against Racism, among others. Jan Philipp Albrecht, a German Green Party member and vice chair of the committee, expressed doubt about Voigt's ability to significantly influence the legislative process, but he did concede that "his presence could lead the public to question the European Parliament". European Parliament Committee on Civil Liberties, Justice and Home Affairs The Committee on Civil Liberties, Justice and Home Affairs (LIBE)