Maidstone and Malling is a new constituency, created as a result of the 2023 boundary review. As it is being fought for the first time, past history is not necessarily a good guide to the outcome this year. However, the new constituency comprises part of the Maidstone and Weald constituency – which has been held by the Conservatives ever since it was created in 1997 – combined with part of the former Tonbridge and Malling constituency, which again has been held by the Conservatives since its inception in 1974. On the face of it, therefore, the Tory candidate, Helen Grant, who until last month …