Britain's former shadow home secretary David Davis launched his parliamentary re-election campaign today, facing competition from the likes of Miss Great Britain, David Icke and the Church of the Militant Elvis Party.
Mr Davis, who quit parliament in protest at what he said was a government attack on civil liberties, should easily retain his Haltemprice and Howden seat in east Yorkshire after Labour and the Liberal Democrats decided not to stand against him.
But the vote, which Mr Davis hopes will generate a national argument, risks becoming an irrelevance and could spell the end of his political career.
The reigning Miss Great Britain Gemma Garrett is among the candidates running against David Davis in the forthcoming by-election
To the huge surprise of both political friends and foes, Mr Davis resigned earlier this month after the government won a very close Commons vote to increase the time police could hold suspects without charge from 28 to 42 days.
The Tory politician said he was making a principled stand and wanted to spark debate on the "ever intrusive power of the state on our lives, the loss of privacy, the loss of freedom and steady attrition undermining the rule of law".
However, critics accused him of being egotistical and the government said it showed that the Conservatives were confused and in disarray.
They said the decision of Labour and the Lib Dems not to contest the seat made a mockery of his decision, meaning he would be debating the issue with the likes of Mad Cow-Girl from the Monster Raving Loony Party.
Reuters