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| Voting ends in Haltemprice poll | Voting ends in Haltemprice poll |
| (30 minutes later) | |
| The polls have closed in the Haltemprice and Howden by-election, a key test for former shadow home secretary David Davis. | The polls have closed in the Haltemprice and Howden by-election, a key test for former shadow home secretary David Davis. |
| He surprised MPs by standing down in June, the day after a controversial vote on terror detention, to fight for his seat on a civil liberties platform. | |
| He is expected to regain the seat - the Lib Dems and Labour are not standing. | |
| Among the 26 candidates, a record for a by-election, are the Greens, English Democrats and Christian Party. | Among the 26 candidates, a record for a by-election, are the Greens, English Democrats and Christian Party. |
| There are so many candidates that the East Riding of Yorkshire Council has decided against erecting the usual temporary stage for them all to stand on at the count. | There are so many candidates that the East Riding of Yorkshire Council has decided against erecting the usual temporary stage for them all to stand on at the count. |
| Small platform | Small platform |
| "We were worried we wouldn't have a stage that could hold them, both width and weight wise," said a spokeswoman. | "We were worried we wouldn't have a stage that could hold them, both width and weight wise," said a spokeswoman. |
| Ten by-election records at risk | Ten by-election records at risk |
| Instead they will stand on the floor in a semi-circle around a small platform for the count. | Instead they will stand on the floor in a semi-circle around a small platform for the count. |
| At the last general election Mr Davis won the seat with a 5,116 majority over the Liberal Democrats. | At the last general election Mr Davis won the seat with a 5,116 majority over the Liberal Democrats. |
| But the Lib Dems chose not to run this time, because they also opposed the government's plans to extend the time limit on holding terrorism suspects, before they have to be charged, from 28 to 42 days. | But the Lib Dems chose not to run this time, because they also opposed the government's plans to extend the time limit on holding terrorism suspects, before they have to be charged, from 28 to 42 days. |
| And Labour have refused to stand, describing the by-election as a farce and a waste of more than £80,000 of public money. | And Labour have refused to stand, describing the by-election as a farce and a waste of more than £80,000 of public money. |
| Mr Davis has accused Prime Minister Gordon Brown of being "gutless" and said he should have used the by-election to argue the government's position. | Mr Davis has accused Prime Minister Gordon Brown of being "gutless" and said he should have used the by-election to argue the government's position. |
| Among those who have backed his campaign and attended debates in the constituency are Bob Geldof, Iraq war veteran Col Tim Collins - and a Labour MP, Bob Marshall Andrews. | Among those who have backed his campaign and attended debates in the constituency are Bob Geldof, Iraq war veteran Col Tim Collins - and a Labour MP, Bob Marshall Andrews. |
| But the Green Party has questioned Mr Davis's stance on some civil liberties issues - including his support for the 28-day limit on holding terror suspects without charge, increased from 14 days in 2005, and his views on capital punishment and gay rights. | But the Green Party has questioned Mr Davis's stance on some civil liberties issues - including his support for the 28-day limit on holding terror suspects without charge, increased from 14 days in 2005, and his views on capital punishment and gay rights. |
| And rape law campaigner Jill Saward, who stood as an independent, criticised his opposition to extending the DNA database and CCTV - which she sees as "the very tools the police need to keep us safe". | And rape law campaigner Jill Saward, who stood as an independent, criticised his opposition to extending the DNA database and CCTV - which she sees as "the very tools the police need to keep us safe". |
| The full list of candidates was:
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