Davis to face 25 rivals in election

The Labour Party and the Liberal Democrats have already said they will not take part in the contest. But a range of individuals and smaller parties had officially thrown their hats into the ring by the time nominations closed.

These include the well-known conspiracy theorist David Icke, Official Monster Raving Loony Party candidate Mad Cow-Girl and Miss Great Britain, Gemma Garrett.

Among the other parties that will be on the ballot paper is the Church of Militant Elvis Party and a representative of Make Politicians History.

Nominations for poll closed on Thursday afternoon and voting will be on July 10.

The contest in the East Yorkshire constituency was triggered when Mr Davis resigned from the House of Commons two weeks ago.

The former shadow home secretary said he decided to force the by-election over Government plans to hold terror suspects for up to 42 days without charge and what he sees as other erosions of our civil liberties.

The full list of candidates issued by the acting returning officer Nigel Pearson includes Conservative Party candidate David Michael Davis and Independents Grace Christine Astley, David Craig, Herbert Winford Crossman, Thomas Faithful Darwood, Tony Farnon, Eamonn Fitzy Fitzpatrick, Christopher Mark Foren, John Nicholson, Jill Saward, Norman Scarth, Walter Edward Sweeney, John Randale Upex and Greg Wood.

Also on the list are David Laurence Bishop of the Church of the Militant Elvis Party, Ronnie Carroll of Make Politicians History and Mad Cow-Girl for The Official Monster Raving Loony Party.

Tess Culnane for National Front Britain for the British, Miss Great Britain Party's Gemma Dawn Garrett, George Hargreaves of the Christian Party, Hamish Howitt of Freedom 4 Choice, David Icke, Shan Oakes for the Green Party, the New Party's David Pinder, Joanne Robinson (English Democrats - Putting England First) and Christopher John Talbot of the Socialist Equality Party complete the list.