Anne McIntosh secures comfortable victory over Liberal Democrats in Thirsk and Malton

Anne McIntosh won the Thirsk and Malton election yesterday - delayed from 7th May because of the death of a declared candidate. The numbers below are for yesterday with the 2005 results in brackets:

• Anne McIntosh (Conservative) 20,167 (25,702), 52.9% (51.9%)
• Howard Keal (Liberal Democrat) 8,886 (9,314) 23.3% (18.8%)
• Jonathan Roberts (Labour) 5,169 (11,585) 13.5% (23.4%)
• UKIP 2,502 (1,522) 6.6% (3.1%)

The Yorkshire Post had described the election - the first between the Coalition partners - as "an old-fashioned election scrap". They cite these remarks from the Lib Dem candidate:

"Another Lib Dem hand on the tiller in government can only strengthen our part in the coalition. Lib Dem policies are now at the heart of government – had we left them to their own devices they would have lurched to the Right, but we have dragged them into the centre ground."

Congratulations to Anne McIntosh.

Tim Montgomerie