As well as the eponymous towns of Thirsk and Malton, the seat also includes Pickering and most of the North York Moors (its southern part), a mixed rugged crags and hillside National Park; its coastline in the seat at Filey is where the Moors meets the sea, with picturesque bays near to Scarborough. Electoral Calculus describes the seat as "Strong Right", characterised by support for socially conservative values and Brexit.[3]
The constituency was first created under the Redistribution of Seats Act 1885 as a county division of the North Riding of Yorkshire. It continued in existence until the 1983 general election, when it was largely replaced by Ryedale following the reorganisation of local government in 1974. Under the Fifth periodic review of Westminster constituencies, coming into effect for the 2010 general election, Ryedale was abolished and Thirsk and Malton re-established.
Under both periods of its existence, the constituency has been a safe Conservative seat, although the Ryedale seat (replacing Thirsk and Malton from 1983 to 2010) was taken by Elizabeth Shields for the Liberal Party, following a by-election in 1986, held following the death of MP John Spence, and she held it for one year until the 1987 general election.
Robin Turton was the Minister of Health (head of department in that era) from December 1955 to January 1957. He also became father of the House and was among the longest-serving MPs for a single constituency, representing his seat for 44 years and 9 months.
1918–1950: The Urban District of Malton, the Rural Districts of Easingwold, Flaxton, Helmsley, Kirkbymoorside, Malton, Thirsk, and Wath, and part of the Rural District of Pickering.
1950–1974: The Urban District of Malton, the Rural Districts of Bedale, Easingwold, Flaxton, Helmsley, Kirkbymoorside, Malton, Thirsk, and Wath, and part of the Rural District of Pickering.
1974–1983: The Urban District of Malton, and the Rural Districts of Bedale, Easingwold, Flaxton, Helmsley, Kirkbymoorside, Malton, Thirsk, and Wath.
2010–2024: The District of Ryedale, the District of Hambleton wards of Easingwold, Helperby, Huby and Sutton, Shipton, Sowerby, Stillington, Thirsk, Thorntons, Tollerton, Topcliffe, White Horse, and Whitestonecliffe, and the Borough of Scarborough wards of Filey and Hertford.
The District of Hambleton wards of: Bagby & Thorntons; Bedale; Sowerby & Topcliffe; Tanfield; Thirsk.
The District of Ryedale.
The Borough of Scarborough wards of: Filey; Hunmanby.[4]
However, before the new boundaries came into effect, the Borough of Harrogate was abolished and absorbed into the new unitary authority of North Yorkshire with effect from 1 April 2023.[5] Consequently, the constituency now comprises the following from the 2024 general election:
Another General Election was required to take place before the end of 1915. The political parties had been making preparations for an election to take place and by July 1914, the following candidates had been selected;
Another General Election was required to take place before the end of 1940. The political parties had been making preparations for an election to take place and by July 1939, the following candidates had been selected;
Thirsk and Malton was originally scheduled to be contested for the first time at the general election on 6 May 2010. However, the death of UKIP candidate John Boakes from a suspected heart attack, announced on 22 April 2010, caused the poll in the constituency to be postponed until 27 May 2010. Under the Electoral Administration Act, UKIP were allowed to select a replacement candidate, but new nominations by other parties were not permitted.[24][25][26] The constituent parties of the Conservative – Liberal Democrat coalition government formed in the aftermath of the general election fielded competing candidates.[27]
In January 2014, ConservativeAnne McIntosh — the MP at the time — was not re-selected by the local party.[28] McIntosh originally announced she would stand as an independent,[28] but withdrew in March 2015.[29]
^Debrett's House of Commons & Judicial Bench, 1886
^ abDebrett's House of Commons & Judicial Bench, 1901
^ abDebrett's House of Commons & Judicial Bench, 1916
^ abcdCraig, F. W. S. (1983). British parliamentary election results 1918–1949 (3 ed.). Chichester: Parliamentary Research Services. ISBN0-900178-06-X.
