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
Beverley and Holderness (UK Parliament constituency) and South West Holderness. The constituency covers the south-east of the East Riding of Yorkshire and borders East Yorkshire, Haltemprice and Howden, Kingston upon Hull North and Kingston upon Hull East seats. It also borders a stretch of the North Sea coast from Skipsea to Spurn Point, and the north bank of the Humber Estuary inland to Hedon. From and including the 2010 general election the composition of the seat has changed; the civil parishes Brandesburton and Woodmansey were transferred to other seats (East Yorkshire and Haltemprice and Howden respectively). Middleton on the Wolds and Newbald were gained from the