Chesterfield is Derbyshire's second largest town and has become a bustling centre of industry after the demise of the area's coal mining.
The town has a higher than average level of council house occupancy, and much of its owner occupancy is in small terraces, making Chesterfield natural territory for Labour.
The seatís proximity to Sheffield is highlighted by its many steel working factories, including the enormous steel and chemical complex at Staveley.
But perhaps the town is best known for its crooked spire that dominates the skyline - caused by warping of the lead and wooden frame of the Church of St Mary and All Saints.
Like Dennis Skinner in neighbouring Bolsover, the outgoing Tony Benn had established himself a base in the north-east corner of Derbyshire to launch his stinging attacks on the Conservatives and latterly New Labour.
But while Mr Skinner commands a huge majority,
Mr Benn, an icon of the left for two decades, won a comparatively shaky majority of just below 6,000.
The Lib Dems have made strides here on a local level. In 1995, they won 10 seats on the borough council and managed almost 40% of the share of the vote at the 1997 election.