BRITAIN:VOTERS IN a small Yorkshire constituency went to the polls yesterday, urged by Conservative politician David Davis to take a stand against what he calls the steady erosion of Britons' fundamental freedoms.
Mr Davis (59) wants residents of Haltemprice and Howden to use the vote to send a message to the government that its plan to be able to detain terrorism suspects without charge for up to 42 days is an affront to civil liberties.
Polling closed at 10pm with political analysts expecting him to emerge a comfortable winner.
But many observers and voters believe the seriousness of his message has been diluted by having to stand against one of the biggest and most eccentric collections of candidates ever assembled at a by-election. They include "Mad Cow-Girl" of the Monster Raving Loony Party, Lord Biro of the Church of Militant Elvis Party and former Miss Great Britain, Gemma Dawn Garrett.
Mr Davis is the only runner from the three main parties after Labour and the Liberal Democrats declined to put up a candidate.
