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
Church of the Militant Elvis Party was heckled while campaigning. The party gained 116 votes and again came in last place. Bishop stood again as one of 26 candidates in the Haltemprice and Howden by-election, 2008, on a platform of overthrowing the capitalist state, due to it turning Elvis into a "fat media joke". He argued that George W. Bush is the anti-Christ, and campaigned to imprison Cherie Blair to prevent her reporting details of her sex life, and to place CCTV in the bedroom of Nick Clegg. He came 17th with 44 votes (0.2%). Campaign pledges for the 2010 general election for Kettering included filling