WHEN it comes to parliamentary constituencies, there are 'safe' seats and then there are 'ultra-safe' seats.
It is fair to say the Thirsk and Malton constituency in North Yorkshire falls firmly in the latter category.
Indeed, the constituency in its various incarnations has been under almost continuous Conservative control for more than a century.
The sprawling, rural seat takes in a large swathe of the Hambleton Hills and Ryedale district, southern parts of the North York Moors and extends as far east as Filey in the coastal borough of Scarborough.
As well as the market towns of Thirsk and Malton, the constituency also encompasses Helmsley, Kirkbymoorside and Pickering.
As expected from such a picturesque rural area, agriculture and tourism are vital to the local economy and whoever takes the reins after the general election is sure to want to get the best Brexit deal for the region's farmers.
The rural nature of the constituency also brings with it concerns over access to healthcare and calls for infrastructure improvements to prevent residents, particularly the elderly, from becoming socially isolated.
Perhaps one of the most contentious current issues for many residents, particularly in the more eastern part of the constituency, is fracking.
Permission was granted by North Yorkshire County Council in May last year to allow fracking on a site at Kirby Misperton, between Pickering and Malton but it has not been universally supported by residents and a high court challenge and protest camp ensued.
CANDIDATE: Kevin Hollinrake, Conservatives
Kevin Hollinrake, who represented the ward since taking over from fracking sceptic Anne McIntosh in 2015, is a supporter of the industry but has called for robust legislation to protect the environment and nearby communities from the effects of shale gas extraction.
He is one of seven candidates standing for the constituency on June 8, with representation from each of the main parties and an independent.
Mr Hollinrake said that he wants to continue that work he has already been doing as the constituency MP.
He said: “We have worked very hard over the last two years to try and get a better deal for North Yorkshire and for the constituency and we have had some good success in more funding for local services, for schools in the fairer funding formula and in terms of funding for adult social care.
“Certainly for me what I aim to bring is a fairer deal for North Yorkshire, we want to make sure that we get more funding from the centre because at the moment it isn’t enough.”
CANDIDATE: Alan Avery, Labour
Alan Avery, who came second as Labour's candidate in the 2015 election, is standing again and says he is "delighted and proud" to be chosen to contest the seat.
He said: "‘The choice for the electors is clear.
"The Labour Party is the main opposition party to the present Conservatives in this constituency and we are dedicated to ending austerity with all that means for families, our elderly and the vulnerable."
He added that the party was "firmly against" any fracking in the UK and especially in North Yorkshire.
CANDIDATE: Martin Brampton, Green Party
Fracking is also a subject important to The Green Party candidate, Martin Brampton, who wants to ensure the constituency's rural landscape is not exploited.
He said: "I'm standing up for the natural world. If we continue to rape the planet, it will bite back.
"Let's lay plans for a secure, fair and safe future."
CANDIDATE: Philip Tate, Independent
Independent candidate Philip Tate is also firmly against fracking and wants the chance to challenge the status quo in Parliament.
He said: "To put an Independent MP into Westminster would send a shock wave through the system and show that here in this constituency we care about our countryside, care about climate change and wish to do no further harm to our planet."
CANDIDATE: Di Keal, Liberal Democrats
Liberal Democrat Di Keal is also standing for the seat, as she did back in 2015, and has previously joined campaigners against fracking in the region.
She said: "I am fighting for the NHS, campaigning to stop cuts to schools and save free school meals for our youngest children, and against Tory cuts to pensions and their plan to rob the elderly of their homes."
CANDIDATE: Toby Horton, UKIP
UKIP candidate Toby Horton said that his party is determined put the fishing and farming industries – not London businesses – at the heart of Brexit negotiations and plans to cut the overseas aid budget to re-invest the money in public services.
He said: “The amount of public spending in rural areas is far, far less than in urban areas, particularly in London and Scotland.
“All this money goes on overseas aid when it really ought to be concentrated on disaster relief and emergencies.”
CANDIDATE: John Clark, Liberal Party
Liberal Party candidate John Clark said that voters have lost trust in both the Conservative and Labour parties and the Liberals offer something different.
"Labour and Liberal Democrat voted for fixed term elections; Teresa May said 'no election', now look what has happened,” he said.
"You can trust the Liberals."
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