Thirsk and Malton Tories boot out Anne McIntosh

So the Constituent Spring continues. Thirsk and Malton Conservatives have just announced that they have voted to not re-adopt their MP Anne McIntosh. The party has announced that selection for a candidate will open shortly, but McIntosh has vowed to fight on. She said:

‘I’d like to thank all those who supported me throughout, from both Vale of York and Thirsk and Malton.

‘It is my intention to stand for Thirsk, Malton and Filey constituency at the next General Election.

‘Meanwhile I remain committed to the Conservative Party locally and nationally and shall continue with my constituency and parliamentary duties with my customary passion.

‘In the coming year I will support Conservative candidates in the European Elections in Yorkshire and the Humber and Conservative local Government candidates in Thirsk, Malton and Filey in 2015.’

Unsurprisingly Labour is seizing on this as some great sign that the Tories have a women problem. Jon Ashworth, Labour’s shadow cabinet office minister, said:

‘What on earth is the Conservative Party’s problem with women? With Anne McIntosh deselected, the Tories look set to lose their only female MP in the whole of Yorkshire and the Humber.