The former Chancellor of the Exchequer Norman Lamont stood for Harrogate and Knaresborough in 1997 after the abolition of his Kingston Upon Thames seat in south west London. The Victorian sumptuousness of the north's largest spa town must have seemed a safe bet for Mr Lamont and the Conservatives, but it was not to be.
The Liberal Democrats achieved their third highest increase in vote share, 18.2%, and Phil Willis beat Mr Lamont by more than 6,000 votes. In one of the election's clearest examples of tactical voting, Labour's share of the vote fell from 13% to under 9%, (its fifth worst showing anywhere).
Harrogate has joined Bath and Cheltenham as large, prosperous spas with Liberal Democrat MPs, and is the equal of its southern counterparts in terms of architecture and amenities. A sizeable extension to the Royal Hall and the construction of a major international conference centre provide both locals and tourists with superb exhibition and leisure facilities.
The nearby picturesque market town of Knaresborough, surrounded by the beautiful Yorkshire Dales, is likewise a draw for tourists - particularly during the world-famous Knaresborough bed race which takes place every June.