Northampton fruit and vegetable market trader Eammon “Fitzy” Fitzpatrick is standing in the Haltemprice and Howden by-election, forced by the recent resignation of Conservative MP David Davis.

Standing as an independent candidate for the Humberside constituency, Fitzpatrick is no stranger to politics, having stood in the 2005 general election and in local elections in 2007.

“I care about the country, I care about my town and I don’t like what’s happening to the towns with the supermarkets,” Fitzpatrick said this week.

“I’m the only working man putting up for this and I’ve had a brilliant reaction. People have shook my hand and have been wishing me luck.”

Fitzpatrick is standing in favour of the 42-day detention rule over which Davis resigned from the Tory party. He has reportedly said he intends leaving his business for at least a month to concentrate on fighting the by-election in the north of England.