Thirsk and Malton
Notional 2005 Results:
Conservative: 27889 (52.8%)
Labour: 13202 (25%)
Liberal Democrat: 9663 (18.3%)
Other: 2099 (4%)
Majority: 14687 (27.8%)
Actual 2005 result
Conservative: 21251 (48.2%)
Labour: 9148 (20.7%)
Liberal Democrat: 10782 (24.4%)
UKIP: 1522 (3.4%)
Other: 1417 (3.2%)
Majority: 10469 (23.7%)
2001 Result
Conservative: 20711 (47.2%)
Labour: 6470 (14.7%)
Liberal Democrat: 15836 (36.1%)
UKIP: 882 (2%)
Majority: 4875 (11.1%)
1997 Result
Conservative: 21351 (43.8%)
Labour: 8762 (18%)
Liberal Democrat: 16293 (33.4%)
Referendum: 1460 (3%)
Other: 917 (1.9%)
Majority: 5058 (10.4%)
Boundary changes: Major. The old seat of Ryedale undergoes major changes as a knock-on effect to the dismemberment of the old Vale of York seat and the creation of York Outer. Easingwold, Helperby, Huby & Sutton, Shipton, Sowerby, Stillington, Thirsk, Thorntons, Tollerton, Topcliffe, White Horse and Whitestonecliffe are all added to the seat from the Vale of York while the York part of the old Ryedale (consisting of Heworth without, Huntington and New Earwick, Osbaldwick, Strensall and a small part of Derwent) goes to the new York Outer seat.
Profile: a huge rural seat in North Yorkshire, covering part of the North Yorks moors (the author James Herriot lived and practiced in Thirsk) and then following the Yorkshire Wolds east to the town of Filey on the coast.
Thirsk and Malton is an affluent rural seat, high rate of owner-occupiers and low unemployment. The economy is largely based on tourism and agriculture, though many residents commute into York. The predecessor seat of Ryedale was briefly held by the Liberals after a 1986 by-election, but under any normal circumstances it is safely Conservative.
Outgoing MP: John Greenway(Conservative) born 1946. Educated at Sir John Deane`s Grammar School and London College of Law. Former policeman and insurance broker. First elected as MP for Ryedale in 1987. He was defeated for the nomination for Thirsk and Malton by Anne McIntosh (more information at They work for you)
Candidates: 
Anne McIntosh (Conservative) born 1954, Edinburgh. Educated at Harrogate College, Edinburgh University and Aarhus University, Denmark. Barrister and Former MEP for Essex North East (1989-1994) and Suffolk South (1994-1999). Contested Workington in 1987. MP for the Vale of York since 1997. Has served as a shadow spokesman on culture, transport, environment, foreign affairs and work and pensions. Currently (Nov 2006) she is shadow minister for education. Her current constituency is effectively abolished by boundary changes and she was chosen over John Greenway to contest the Thirsk and Malton seat.
Jonathan Roberts (Labour) Born 1982. Educated at Thirsk Comprehensive and Loughborough University. Manages the Maritime UK coalition of shipping, ports and maritime business services bodies. Executive officer of the Labour Movement for Europe.
Howard Keal (Liberal Democrat) Freelance PR consultant. Ryedale councillor and leader of the Liberal Democrat group on Ryedale council.
Chris Newsam (Green)
Judith Morris (UKIP)
2001 Census Demographics
Total 2001 Population: 93576
Male: 49.2%
Female: 50.8%
Under 18: 21%
Over 60: 26.6%
Born outside UK: 2.9%
White: 99.4%
Mixed: 0.3%
Other: 0.2%
Christian: 82.5%
Full time students: 1.6%
Graduates 16-74: 19.9%
No Qualifications 16-74: 29.8%
Owner-Occupied: 71.4%
Social Housing: 12.3% (Council: 1.9%, Housing Ass.: 10.4%)
Privately Rented: 10.6%
Homes without central heating and/or private bathroom: 9.3%
She would have been the second candidate they’d got rid of in a short space of time if the malcontents had been successful.
Is this seat going to do the right thing and count on the Thursday night? The old Thirsk and Malton seat used to count on the Friday, but transport was not so easy in those days. And as has been pointed out in several places on this site an immediate count prevents possibilities of meddling with the balot boxes.
Indeed, I have a distant recollection of being told by a master at school who lived in Thirsk and Malton (or rather York Outer) that a ballot box WAS interfered with overnight in this seat. I think it would have been in 1959, or less likely it might have been in a slightly earlier election. Does anybody local know enough about political hisotry here, or have access to records, to tell us if my recollection was trueor not? Of course, it wouldn’t have affected the result – Thirsk and Malton was rock solid safe for the Turtons – but it is the principle that matters.
Has Pickering had the same boundary history as Malton?
Has Pickering had the same constituency history as Malton?
Since 1918 Pickering was in Thirsk & Malton and Ryedale since 1983 and will be in Thirsk & Malton again from the next election.
However from 1885-1918 it was in the Whitby seat.
The Greens have selected Chris Newsam here
Has John Greenway MP found a seat or indeed applied for any others?
At the last selection meeting I believe John announced that if he were chosen to fight Thirsk and Malton again, it would be his last term. So I hardly see him chasing another seat if he intended to retire in 2014/15. Besides, if facing another selection committee, it doesn’t look good to admit you were deselected by your existing constituency.
On Chris Mewsam’s Facebook page as of 23 Feb.
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Chris Newsam with regret I have decided, after so agonising, to withdraw as a Green Party candidate at the forthcoming General Election for the constituency of Thirsk and Malton. This is due to on-going and as yet unresolved health issues which have developed this winter. As I cannot determine how long my illness will continue I feel that I cannot give the commitment necessary to run a successful and meaningful campaign.
Any news on the Labour candidate? He appears to be getting a lot of press coverage