Former shadow home secretary David Davis has launched his by-election campaign with an attack on Prime Minister Gordon Brown.

Mr Davis said: "In yesterday's by-election Gordon Brown lost his deposit, in today's by-election he's lost his nerve."

Mr Davis triggered the contest a fortnight ago in Haltemprice and Howden when he resigned on the issue of what he sees as the Government's erosion of civil liberties.

Since then the Labour Party and the Liberal Democrats have both refused to put up candidates.

Davis added: "The Labour Party is not standing because it is afraid of the debate."

But the former Tory leadership contender will not be alone on the stage when the name of the new MP is announced on July 10.

As well as a candidate from the Green Party and Mad Cow Girl from The Official Monster Raving Loony Party there will be a rival from the Church of The Militant Elvis Party as well as the current Miss Great Britain.

Other candidates include Jill Saward - the victim of the horrific Ealing Vicarage rape in 1986 - who is campaigning on behalf of other victims of sexual violence.

The well-known conspiracy theorist David Icke will also be on the ballot paper.

Mr Davis will launch his campaign in the Hull suburb of Willerby.

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