FORMER shadow home secretary David Davis was re-elected to the Commons yesterday, after forcing a by-election in the East Yorkshire seat of Howden and Haltenprice over the issue of 42 days detention for terrorist suspects Mr Davis won more than 71.

Graham Dines

FORMER shadow home secretary David Davis was re-elected to the Commons yesterday, after forcing a by-election in the East Yorkshire seat of Howden and Haltenprice over the issue of 42 days detention for terrorist suspects

Mr Davis won more than 71.5% of the up, up 24.11% since the last General Election, although it is impossible to calculate a swing because neither Labour nor the Liberal Democrats fielded candidates.

Labour refused to fight the election because it did not want to give Davis the oxygen of publicity and the Lib Dems - second in 2005 - decided against putting up a candidate because they supported Mr Davis's stand.

The result in full:

*David Davis (Conservative) 17,113, Shan Oakes (Green Party) 1,758, Joanne Robinson (English Democrats) 1,714, Tess Culnane (National Front) 544, Gemma Garrett (Miss Great Britain Party), Jill Saward (Independent) 492, Mad Cow-Girl (Monster Raving Loony Party) 412 (1.72%), Walter Sweeney (Independent) 238, John Nicholson (Independent) 162, David Craig (Independent) 135, David Pinder (New Party) 135, David Icke (No Description) 110, Hamish Howitt (Freedom) 91, Christopher Talbot (Socialist Equality Party) 84, Grace Astley (Independent) 77, George Hargreaves (Christian Party) 76,

David Bishop (Church of the Militant Elvis Party) 44, John Upex (Independent) 38, Greg Wood (Independent) 32, Eamonn Fitzpatrick (Independent) 31, Ronnie Carroll (Make Politicians History) 29,

Thomas Darwood (Independent) 25, Christopher Foren (Independent) 23, Herbert Crossman (Independent) 11, Tony Farnon (Independent) 8, Norman Scarth (Independent) 8. Conservative hold. Conservative majority 15,355 .

Electorate 70,266; Turnout 23,911 (34.03%).

2005 General Election: Conservative majority 5,116.