Conservative politician David Davis regained his parliamentary seat today in a by-election triggered when he resigned last month in protest against the British government's anti-terrorism laws.
The 59-year-old former Shadow Home Secretary won 17,113 votes, on a turnout of 35 per cent in the northern constituency of Haltemprice and Howden. Labour did not field a candidate.
The last time Mr Davis contested his seat, in the 2005 parliamentary election, 70.2 per cent of the electorate turned out and he received 22,792 votes.
"We have fired a shock across the bows of Gordon Brown's arbitrary and arrogant government," Mr Davis said in his victory speech after the results of Thursday's ballot were announced.
Mr Davis said he would return to parliament next week "with a clear mandate to fight Gordon's vision of big brother Britain tooth and nail".
He had been widely expected to win because the constituency is considered a safe Conservative seat and the Liberal Democrats also did not field a candidate.
Mr Davis wanted voters in Haltemprice and Howden, near Hull, to use the ballot to send a message to the government that its plan to be able to detain terrorist suspects without charge for up to 42 days was an affront to civil liberties.
Many observers believe the seriousness of his message was diluted by having to stand against one of the biggest and most eccentric collections of candidates assembled at a by-election, including Miss Great Britain, Lord Biro of the Church of the Militant Elvis and Mad Cow-Girl of the Monster Raving Loony Party.
The Green Party came second with 1,758 votes.