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  • 21 Aug, 2019

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Skipton And Ripon (UK Parliament Constituency)
Skipton and Ripon is a constituency in North Yorkshire represented in the House of Commons of the UK Parliament since 2010 by Julian Smith, a Conservative.

Constituency profile

The constituency covers a mainly rural area of the Yorkshire Dales. The largest settlements are the town of Skipton and the city of Ripon. Smaller towns in the constituency are Bentham, Settle, Pateley Bridge and Masham.

It is one of the safest seats in England, formed on an area with a long history of Conservative representation and with a large majority of its electorate having in the last election voted Conservative. It was also the constituency in 1992 that when declared, saw the Conservatives gain the 4th straight majority since 1979 and John Major re-elected as Prime Minister.

At 1.6%, Skipton and Ripon had significantly lower than national average unemployment (3.8%) in November 2012.

This area of the Yorkshire Dales covers the whole of the former Craven district and the northern and western parts of the former Borough of Harrogate district.

Boundaries

1983–1997: The District of Craven, and the Borough of Harrogate wards of Almscliffe, Bishop Monkton, Boroughbridge, Fountains, Killinghall, Kirkby Malzeard, Lower Nidderdale, Mashamshire, Newby, Nidd Valley, Pateley Bridge, Ripon East, Ripon West, Wathvale, and Wharfedale Moors.

1997–2010: The District of Craven, and the Borough of Harrogate wards of Almscliffe, Bishop Monkton, Fountains, Killinghall, Kirkby Malzeard, Lower Nidderdale, Mashamshire, Nidd Valley, Pateley Bridge, Ripon East, Ripon West, and Wharfedale Moors.

2010–2024: The District of Craven, and the Borough of Harrogate wards of Bishop Monkton, Kirkby Malzeard, Lower Nidderdale, Mashamshire, Newby, Nidd Valley, Pateley Bridge, Ripon Minster, Ripon Moorside, Ripon Spa, Washburn, and Wathvale.

2024–present: The District of Craven: Aire Valley with Lothersdale; Barden Fell; Bentham; Cowling; Embsay-with-Eastby; Gargrave and Malhamdale; Glusburn; Grassington; Hellifield and Long Preston; Ingleton and Clapham; Penyghent; Settle and Ribblebanks; Skipton East; Skipton North; Skipton South; Skipton West; Sutton-in-Craven; Upper Wharfedale; and West Craven; and the Borough of Harrogate wards of: Fountains & Ripley; Masham & Kirkby Malzeard; Nidd Valley; Pateley Bridge & Nidderdale Moors; Ripon Minster; Ripon Moorside; Ripon Spa; Ripon Ure Bank; Washburn; and Wathvale.

2023 Periodic Review of Westminster constituencies described changes to the constituency as following: The southern part of the Wathvale & Bishop Monkton division (including the parish of Bishop Monkton) has been transferred to the new constituency of Wetherby and Easingwold.

History

The constituency was created in 1983 from the parts of the former seats of Skipton and Ripon within the county of North Yorkshire.

Members of Parliament

Election Member Party
1983 John Watson Conservative
1987 David Curry Conservative
2010 Julian Smith Conservative

Elections

Skipton and Ripon election results

Elections in the 2020s

General election 2024: Skipton and Ripon
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative Julian Smith 18,833 35.2 —23.7
Labour Malcolm Birks 17,183 32.1 +12.9
Reform UK Simon Garvey 8,516 15.9 New
Liberal Democrats Andrew Murday 4,194 7.8 —7.4
Green Andy Brown 3,446 6.4 +1.7
Yorkshire Ryan Kett 627 1.2 —0.8
Independent Keith Graham Tordoff 493 0.9 New
Heritage Guy Phoenix 158 0.3 New
Majority 1,650 3.1 —37.3
Turnout 53,450 67.4 —7.2
Registered electors 79,251
Conservative hold Swing

Elections in the 2010s

General election 2019: Skipton and Ripon
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative Julian Smith 34,919 59.5 ―3.2
Labour Brian McDaid 11,225 19.1 ―9.2
Liberal Democrats Andrew Murday 8,701 14.8 New
Green Andy Brown 2,748 4.7 ―1.7
Yorkshire Jack Render 1,131 1.9 ―0.7
Majority 23,694 40.4 +6.0
Turnout 58,724 74.6 +0.2
Conservative hold Swing +3.0
General election 2017: Skipton and Ripon
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative Julian Smith 36,425 62.7 +7.3
Labour Alan Woodhead 16,440 28.3 +10.9
Green Andy Brown 3,734 6.4 +0.7
Yorkshire Jack Render 1,539 2.6 New
Majority 19,985 34.4 ―3.6
Turnout 58,138 74.4 +6.8
Conservative hold Swing ―1.8

In 2017, the Liberal Democrats stood aside and endorsed the Green Party.

General election 2015: Skipton and Ripon
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative Julian Smith 30,248 55.4 +4.8
Labour Malcolm Birks 9,487 17.4 +7.4
UKIP Alan Henderson 7,651 14.0 +10.5
Liberal Democrats Jacquie Bell 4,057 7.4 ―25.0
Green Andy Brown 3,116 5.7 New
Majority 20,761 38.0 +19.8
Turnout 54,559 71.6 +0.9
Conservative hold Swing ―1.2
General election 2010: Skipton and Ripon
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative Julian Smith 27,685 50.6 +0.6
Liberal Democrats Helen Flynn 17,735 32.4 +5.8
Labour Claire Hazelgrove 5,498 10.0 ―8.2
UKIP Rodney Mills 1,909 3.5 ―1.1
BNP Bernard Allen 1,403 2.6 New
Independent Roger Bell 315 0.6 New
The Youth Party Dylan Gilligan 95 0.2 New
Virtue Currency Cognitive Appraisal Party Bob Leakey 84 0.2 ―0.4
Majority 9,950 18.2 ―4.8
Turnout 54,724 70.7 +4.6
Conservative hold Swing ―2.6

Elections in the 2000s

General election 2005: Skipton and Ripon
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative David Curry 25,100 49.7 ―2.7
Liberal Democrats Paul English 13,480 26.7 +0.6
Labour Paul Baptie 9,393 18.6 +1.2
UKIP Ian Bannister 2,274 4.5 +0.3
Virtue Currency Cognitive Appraisal Party Bob Leakey 274 0.5 New
Majority 11,620 23.0 ―3.3
Turnout 50,521 72.6 +6.5
Conservative hold Swing
General election 2001: Skipton and Ripon
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative David Curry 25,736 52.4 +5.9
Liberal Democrats Bernard Bateman 12,806 26.1 +0.9
Labour Michael Dugher 8,543 17.4 ―5.0
UKIP Nancy Holdsworth 2,041 4.2 New
Majority 12,930 26.3 +5.0
Turnout 49,126 66.1 ―8.6
Conservative hold Swing

Elections in the 1990s

General election 1997: Skipton and Ripon
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative David Curry 25,294 46.5 ―11.9
Liberal Democrats Thomas Mould 13,674 25.2 ―1.8
Labour Robert Marchant 12,171 22.4 +7.8
Referendum Nancy Holdsworth 3,212 5.9 New
Majority 11,620 21.3 ―10.1
Turnout 54,351 74.7 ―6.6
Conservative hold Swing ―5.1
General election 1992: Skipton and Ripon
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative David Curry 35,937 58.4 ―0.6
Liberal Democrats Richard Hall 16,607 27.0 ―1.4
Labour Katharine Allott 8,978 14.6 +3.4
Majority 19,330 31.4 +0.8
Turnout 61,522 81.3 +3.5
Conservative hold Swing +0.4

Elections in the 1980s

General election 1987: Skipton and Ripon
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative David Curry 33,128 59.0 ―1.6
Liberal Stephen Cooksey 15,954 28.4 ―3.2
Labour Timothy Whitfield 6,264 11.2 +3.4
Green Linda Williams 825 1.5 New
Majority 17,174 30.6 +1.6
Turnout 56,171 77.8 +2.9
Conservative hold Swing +0.9
General election 1983: Skipton and Ripon
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative John Watson 31,509 60.6
Liberal Claire Brooks 16,463 31.6
Labour Margaret Billing 4,044 7.8
Majority 15,046 29.0
Turnout 52,016 74.9
Conservative win (new seat)

See also