title: Thirsk and Malton (UK Parliament constituency 1885–1983)
text: # Thirsk and Malton (UK Parliament constituency 1885–1983)
  
  Thirsk and Malton was a constituency represented in the House of Commons of the UK Parliament between 1885 and 1983. The constituency was revived in 2010.
  
  ## History
  
  Robin Turton was the Minister of Health (note 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.
  
  ## Boundaries
  
  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.
  
  ## Members of Parliament
  
  | Year | Member | Party |
  | - | - | - |
  | 1885 | Lewis Payn Dawnay | Conservative |
  | 1892 | Sir John Lawson | Conservative |
  | 1906 | Charles Duncombe | Conservative |
  | 1915 | Sir Edmund Turton | Unionist |
  | 1929 | Sir Robin Turton | Conservative |
  | 1974 | John Spence | Conservative |
  | 1983 | Constituency abolished | Constituency abolished |
  
  ## Elections
  
  ### Elections in the 1880s
  
  General election 1885: Thirsk and Malton :
  
  | Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
  | - | - | - | - | - | - |
  | | Conservative | Lewis Payn Dawnay | 5,966 | 57.0 | N/A |
  | | Liberal | Edmund Turton | 4,503 | 43.0 | N/A |
  | Majority | Majority | Majority | 1,463 | 14.0 | N/A |
  | Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 10,469 | 82.8 | N/A |
  | Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 12,637 | | |
  | | Conservative win (new seat) | Conservative win (new seat) | Conservative win (new seat) | Conservative win (new seat) | Conservative win (new seat) |
  
  General election 1886: Thirsk and Malton :
  
  | Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
  | - | - | - | - | - | - |
  | | Conservative | Lewis Payn Dawnay | Unopposed | Unopposed | Unopposed |
  | | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Conservative hold |
  
  ### Elections in the 1890s
  
  General election 1892: Thirsk and Malton :
  
  | Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
  | - | - | - | - | - | - |
  | | Conservative | John Lawson | 5,890 | 62.5 | N/A |
  | | Liberal | Harold Reckitt | 3,541 | 37.5 | N/A |
  | Majority | Majority | Majority | 2,349 | 25.0 | N/A |
  | Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 9,431 | 77.2 | N/A |
  | Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 12,220 | | |
  | | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Conservative hold |
  
  General election 1895: Thirsk and Malton :
  
  | Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
  | - | - | - | - | - | - |
  | | Conservative | John Lawson | Unopposed | Unopposed | Unopposed |
  | | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Conservative hold |
  
  ### Elections in the 1900s
  
  General election 1900: Thirsk and Malton :
  
  | Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
  | - | - | - | - | - | - |
  | | Conservative | John Lawson | Unopposed | Unopposed | Unopposed |
  | | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Conservative hold |
  
  General election 1906: Thirsk and Malton :
  
  | Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
  | - | - | - | - | - | - |
  | | Conservative | Charles Duncombe | 5,848 | 53.7 | N/A |
  | | Liberal | John J Brigg | 5,044 | 46.3 | N/A |
  | Majority | Majority | Majority | 804 | 7.4 | N/A |
  | Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 10,892 | 84.5 | N/A |
  | Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 12,888 | | |
  | | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Conservative hold |
  
  ### Elections in the 1910s
  
  General election January 1910: Thirsk and Malton :
  
  | Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
  | - | - | - | - | - | - |
  | | Conservative | Charles Duncombe | 6,382 | 55.1 | +1.4 |
  | | Liberal | John J Brigg | 5,197 | 46.9 | -1.4 |
  | Majority | Majority | Majority | 1,185 | 10.2 | 2.8 |
  | Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | | | |
  | | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Swing | +1.4 | |
  
  General election December 1910: Thirsk and Malton :
  
  | Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
  | - | - | - | - | - | - |
  | | Conservative | Charles Duncombe | Unopposed | Unopposed | Unopposed |
  | | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Conservative hold |
  
  General Election 1914–15:
  
  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;
  
  * Unionist: Edmund Turton
  * Liberal: George Nicholls
  
  1915 Thirsk and Malton by-election :
  
  | Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
  | - | - | - | - | - | - |
  | | Unionist | Edmund Turton | Unopposed | Unopposed | Unopposed |
  | | Unionist hold | Unionist hold | Unionist hold | Unionist hold | Unionist hold |
  
  General election 1918: Thirsk and Malton :
  
  | Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
  | - | - | - | - | - | - |
  | C | Unionist | Edmund Turton | 9,656 | 69.1 | N/A |
  | | Liberal | Samuel S Lockwood | 4,317 | 30.9 | N/A |
  | Majority | Majority | Majority | 5,339 | 38.2 | N/A |
  | Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | | | N/A |
  | | Unionist hold | Unionist hold | Unionist hold | Unionist hold | Unionist hold |
  | C indicates candidate endorsed by the coalition government. ||||||
  
  ### Elections in the 1920s
  
  General election 1922: Thirsk and Malton :
  
  | Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
  | - | - | - | - | - | - |
  | | Unionist | Edmund Turton | Unopposed | Unopposed | Unopposed |
  | | Unionist hold | Unionist hold | Unionist hold | Unionist hold | Unionist hold |
  
  General election 1923: Thirsk and Malton :
  
  | Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
  | - | - | - | - | - | - |
  | | Unionist | Edmund Turton | 11,545 | 62.5 | N/A |
  | | Liberal | William Haughton Sessions | 6,939 | 37.5 | N/A |
  | Majority | Majority | Majority | 4,606 | 25.0 | N/A |
  | Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 18,484 | | N/A |
  | | Unionist hold | Unionist hold | Unionist hold | Unionist hold | Unionist hold |
  
  General election 1924: Thirsk and Malton :
  
  | Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
  | - | - | - | - | - | - |
  | | Unionist | Edmund Turton | 13,564 | 65.7 | +3.2 |
  | | Liberal | William Haughton Sessions | 7,072 | 34.3 | -3.2 |
  | Majority | Majority | Majority | 6,492 | 31.4 | +6.4 |
  | Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 20,636 | | |
  | | Unionist hold | Unionist hold | Swing | +3.2 | |
  
  General election 1929: Thirsk and Malton :
  
  | Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
  | - | - | - | - | - | - |
  | | Unionist | Robert Turton | 16,084 | 59.2 | -6.5 |
  | | Liberal | Thomas Sunley | 11,069 | 40.8 | +6.5 |
  | Majority | Majority | Majority | 5,015 | 18.5 | -13.0 |
  | Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 27,153 | 73.7 | |
  | | Unionist hold | Unionist hold | Swing | +6.5 | |
  
  ### Elections in the 1930s
  
  General election 1931: Thirsk and Malton :
  
  | Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
  | - | - | - | - | - | - |
  | | Conservative | Robert Turton | Unopposed | Unopposed | Unopposed |
  | | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Conservative hold |
  
  General election 1935: Thirsk and Malton :
  
  | Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
  | - | - | - | - | - | - |
  | | Conservative | Robert Turton | Unopposed | Unopposed | Unopposed |
  | | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Conservative hold |
  
  ### Election in the 1940s
  
  General Election 1939–40:
  
  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;
  
  * Conservative: Robert Turton
  
  General election 1945: Thirsk and Malton :
  
  | Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
  | - | - | - | - | - | - |
  | | Conservative | Robert Turton | 20,483 | 60.15 | N/A |
  | | Common Wealth | Edward Moeran | 13,572 | 39.85 | N/A |
  | Majority | Majority | Majority | 6,911 | 20.29 | N/A |
  | Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | | 65.55 | N/A |
  | | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Swing | N/A | |
  
  ### Elections in the 1950s
  
  General election 1950: Thirsk and Malton :
  
  | Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
  | - | - | - | - | - | - |
  | | Conservative | Robert Turton | 26,324 | 65.41 | |
  | | Labour | Ivan Ernest Geffen | 11,480 | 28.53 | N/A |
  | | Liberal | Harry Aldam | 2,441 | 6.07 | N/A |
  | Majority | Majority | Majority | 14,844 | 36.88 | |
  | Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | | 81.51 | |
  | | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Swing | N/A | |
  
  General election 1951: Thirsk and Malton :
  
  | Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
  | - | - | - | - | - |
  | | Conservative | Robert Turton | 27,854 | 72.26 |
  | | Labour | Arnold John Parkinson | 10,692 | 27.74 |
  | Majority | Majority | Majority | 17,162 | 44.52 |
  | Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | | 77.41 |
  | | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Swing | |
  
  General election 1955: Thirsk and Malton :
  
  | Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
  | - | - | - | - | - |
  | | Conservative | Robert Turton | 25,467 | 69.11 |
  | | Labour | George R Mitton | 11,382 | 30.89 |
  | Majority | Majority | Majority | 14,085 | 38.22 |
  | Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | | 73.39 |
  | | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Swing | |
  
  General election 1959: Thirsk and Malton :
  
  | Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
  | - | - | - | - | - |
  | | Conservative | Robert Turton | 27,413 | 69.00 |
  | | Labour | Jeremy Bray | 12,318 | 31.00 |
  | Majority | Majority | Majority | 15,095 | 37.99 |
  | Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | | 75.65 |
  | | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Swing | |
  
  ### Elections in the 1960s
  
  General election 1964: Thirsk and Malton :
  
  | Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
  | - | - | - | - | - |
  | | Conservative | Robert Turton | 28,272 | 66.39 |
  | | Labour | Daniel Lorden Hussey | 14,315 | 33.61 |
  | Majority | Majority | Majority | 13,957 | 32.77 |
  | Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | | 73.81 |
  | | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Swing | |
  
  General election 1966: Thirsk and Malton :
  
  | Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
  | - | - | - | - | - |
  | | Conservative | Robert Turton | 25,089 | 61.59 |
  | | Labour | Richard A Wilson | 15,647 | 38.41 |
  | Majority | Majority | Majority | 9,442 | 23.18 |
  | Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | | 70.27 |
  | | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Swing | |
  
  ### Elections in the 1970s
  
  General election 1970: Thirsk and Malton :
  
  | Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
  | - | - | - | - | - |
  | | Conservative | Robert Turton | 30,892 | 66.86 |
  | | Labour | Jonathan Richard Bradshaw | 15,309 | 33.14 |
  | Majority | Majority | Majority | 15,583 | 33.73 |
  | Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | | 72.34 |
  | | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Swing | |
  
  General election February 1974: Thirsk and Malton :
  
  | Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
  | - | - | - | - | - |
  | | Conservative | John Spence | 27,580 | 53.44 |
  | | Liberal | Michael JL Brooks | 13,172 | 25.52 |
  | | Labour | MD Coupe | 10,855 | 21.03 |
  | Majority | Majority | Majority | 14,408 | 27.92 |
  | Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | | 81.46 |
  | | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Swing | |
  
  General election October 1974: Thirsk and Malton :
  
  | Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
  | - | - | - | - | - |
  | | Conservative | John Spence | 24,779 | 53.24 |
  | | Liberal | Rodney Kent | 10,917 | 23.46 |
  | | Labour | RK Illingworth | 10,842 | 23.30 |
  | Majority | Majority | Majority | 13,862 | 29.79 |
  | Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | | 72.88 |
  | | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Swing | |
  
  General election 1979: Thirsk and Malton :
  
  | Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
  | - | - | - | - | - |
  | | Conservative | John Spence | 32,520 | 59.15 |
  | | Labour | EJ Roberts | 11,924 | 21.69 |
  | | Liberal | Rex North | 10,533 | 19.16 |
  | Majority | Majority | Majority | 20,596 | 37.46 |
  | Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | | 76.46 |
  | | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Swing | |
  