Thirsk and Malton

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.

The 2010 general election in Thirsk and Malton was countermanded following the death of John Boakes, the UKIP candidate, after close of nominations. Anne McIntosh was finally returned on the 27th May.

Current MP: 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.

2010 election 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.
Toby Horton (UKIP) Director of a television production company. Contested Sedgefield 1983, Rother Valley 1992 for the Conservative Party. Defected to UKIP in 2006. Contested Sedgefield by-election 2007.
John Clark (Liberal) Ryedale councillor. North Yorkshire councillor.