McIntosh was not reselected by her Thirsk and Malton constituency association on 31 January 2014, although she continued to represent the Conservative Party in Parliament until the 2015 general election.

In 1978, she became a trainee at the European Community (EEC) Competition Directorate, before joining Didier and Associates in Brussels in 1979 as a legal advisor.

On 18 November 2006, the newly formed Thirsk and Malton Conservative Association chose McIntosh as their candidate for the ensuing general election.

[5] Following the death of UK Independence Party candidate John Boakes, the 2010 election in Thirsk and Malton was delayed until 27 May, some three weeks after the rest of the country.

During 2010/11, McIntosh had been campaigning for the reopening of Ryedale Ward at Malton Community Hospital following its temporary closure as part of a pilot scheme.

McIntosh secured an adjournment debate in the House of Commons on 17 November 2010 on the decision-making processes for closing hospital wards.

Although McIntosh secured a debate, which took place on Tuesday 15 February, on introducing a potential fuel duty stabilizer and rebate for remote rural areas, it did not feature in the Budget.

In January 2013, it was reported that the Conservative local party 'Executive Committee' had voted not to reselect McIntosh automatically as the Parliamentary Candidate for the next general election.