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
Multi-member constituencies in the Parliament of the United Kingdom Multi-member constituencies in the Parliament of the United Kingdom Multi-member constituencies in the UK Parliament (and its predecessor bodies in the component parts of the United Kingdom) existed from the earliest era of elected representation in Parliament until the last of them were abolished prior to the UK general election, 1950, with the passing of the Representation of the People Act 1948. Since 1950, all members of the House of Commons have been elected from single-member constituencies, also conveniently termed seats. Three electoral systems have been used to return multiple members to Parliament. The system requires two or more vacant