# Leeds North West (UK Parliament constituency)

Leeds North West is a constituency in the City of Leeds which has been represented in the House of Commons of the UK Parliament since 2024 by Katie White, of the Labour Party.

## History

The constituency was created in 1950, as Leeds North-West; the name was changed by dropping the hyphen in 1955. Before the 1950 general election, Leeds was represented by the constituencies of: Leeds Central, Leeds North, Leeds South, Leeds West, (all created 1885); Leeds North-East and Leeds South-East (both created 1918). There were also constituencies of Batley and Morley (created 1918) and Pudsey and Otley (created 1918 replacing Pudsey). Leeds North West was created before the 1950 election, and at the same time the Pudsey and Otley constituency was abolished, re-creating the Pudsey constituency and moving Otley into the Ripon constituency.
The constituency was held for the Conservative Party by Donald Kaberry from its creation in 1950 until his retirement in 1983, and then by Keith Hampson (1983–1997), who had previously been MP for Ripon. It was taken for Labour in the 1997 general election by Harold Best, who was re-elected in the 2001 general election. Best retired at the 2005 general election. The seat was contested for Labour by Judith Blake (at that time Deputy Leader of the Labour Group on Leeds City Council, and later also Labour's candidate in the 2010 general election), but it was taken for the Liberal Democrats by Greg Mulholland. Mulholland was re-elected in 2010 and 2015. Alex Sobel regained the seat for Labour in the 2017 general election, and was re-elected in 2019.
The notional 2019 result for the reconfigured constituency was a Conservative win. Accordingly, Alex Sobel decided to stand (successfully) in the 2024 general election for the new and much safer seat of Leeds Central and Headingly. The Leeds North West seat was won by Katie White for Labour, making it a notional gain from the Conservatives.

## Constituency profile

This constituency has one of the biggest student populations in the country at over a quarter of the electorate; it comprises outer Leeds suburbs that are professional, middle-to-high income and residential.
It was within the Yorkshire and the Humber European Parliament constituency, which from 2019 to 2020 when the UK left the EU was represented by three Brexit Party, one Labour, one Liberal Democrat and one Green Party MEPs.

## Boundaries

1950–1951: The County Borough of Leeds wards of Far Headingley, Hyde Park, and Kirkstall.
1951–1955: The County Borough of Leeds wards of Far Headingley, Hyde Park, Kirkstall, and Meanwood.
1955–1974: The County Borough of Leeds wards of Far Headingley, Hyde Park, Kirkstall, Meanwood, and Moortown.
1974–1983: The County Borough of Leeds wards of Cookridge, Headingley, Kirkstall, Moortown, and Weetwood.
1983–2010: The City of Leeds wards of Cookridge, Headingley, Otley and Wharfedale, and Weetwood.
The Leeds North West boundary was revised for the 1983 general election, bringing in Otley and the nearby villages of Bramhope, Pool-in-Wharfedale and Arthington from the abolished Ripon constituency. Moortown was transferred to Leeds North East, and Kirkstall to Leeds West.
2010–2024: The City of Leeds wards of Adel and Wharfedale, Headingley, Otley and Yeadon, and Weetwood.
Minor changes to reflect changes to ward names and boundaries.
2024–present: The City of Leeds wards of Adel and Wharfedale, Guiseley and Rawdon, Horsforth, and Otley and Yeadon.
Following the 2023 periodic review of Westminster constituencies, which came into effect for the 2024 general election, the constituency boundaries were substantially changed although its name was unchanged. Headingley and Weetwood in the south of the 2010 constituency were moved to the new constituency of Leeds Central and Headingley, while Guiseley, Rawdon and Horsforth were transferred in from Pudsey (reconfigured and renamed Leeds West and Pudsey).
The old constituency was divided between the new constituency (85.7% by area and 50.2% by population of the old constituency) and Leeds Central and Headingley (14.3% by area and 49.8% by population). The new constituency was made up predominantly of parts of the old constituency (62.2% by area and 47.3% by population of the new constituency) and Pudsey (37.7% by area and 52.7% by population), with a small contribution from Leeds North East (0.1% by area and 0.0% by population).
The constituency currently covers the northwestern part of the City of Leeds metropolitan borough, West Yorkshire. It stretches from Otley in the north to Horsforth in the south, with Guiseley and Yeadon in between them in terms of major settlements.

## Members of Parliament

| Election | Member | Party |
| 1950 | Sir Donald Kaberry | Conservative |
| 1983 | Keith Hampson | Conservative |
| 1997 | Harold Best | Labour |
| 2005 | Greg Mulholland | Liberal Democrat |
| 2017 | Alex Sobel | Labour Co-op |
| 2024 | Katie White | Labour |

## Elections
### Elections in the 2020s

General election 2024: Leeds North West :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Labour | Katie White | 22,882 | 46.0 | +7.7 |
| | Conservative | Thomas Averre | 10,986 | 22.1 | −19.8 |
| | Reform UK | Jayne Louise Bond | 5,935 | 11.9 | +10.6 |
| | Liberal Democrats | Ryk Downes | 5,641 | 11.3 | −3.5 |
| | Green | Mick Bradley | 3,231 | 6.5 | +4.2 |
| | Yorkshire | Bob Buxton | 1,024 | 2.1 | +0.6 |
| | SDP | Kathy Bushell | 78 | 0.2 | N/A |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 11,896 | 23.9 | N/A |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 49,777 | 69.5 | −8.2 |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 71,592 | | |
| | Labour gain from Conservative | Labour gain from Conservative | Swing | +13.8 | |
Note that the figures for gain and loss refer to comparisons with the notional 2019 result for the constituency with its revised boundaries.

### Elections in the 2010s

2019 notional result :
| Party | Party | Vote | % |
| | Conservative | 23,311 | 41.9 |
| | Labour | 21,310 | 38.3 |
| | Liberal Democrats | 8,212 | 14.8 |
| | Green | 1,266 | 2.3 |
| | Others | 844 | 1.5 |
| | Brexit Party | 729 | 1.3 |
| Turnout | Turnout | 55,672 | 77.7 |
| Electorate | Electorate | 71,607 |
General election 2019: Leeds North West :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Labour Co-op | Alex Sobel | 23,971 | 48.6 | +4.5 |
| | Conservative | Stewart Harper | 13,222 | 26.8 | +7.1 |
| | Liberal Democrats | Kamran Hussain | 9,397 | 19.1 | −15.9 |
| | Green | Martin Hemingway | 1,389 | 2.8 | +1.5 |
| | Brexit Party | Graeme Webber | 1,304 | 2.7 | New |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 10,749 | 21.8 | +12.7 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 49,283 | 73.0 | +5.1 |
| | Labour Co-op hold | Labour Co-op hold | Swing | | |
General election 2017: Leeds North West :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Labour Co-op | Alex Sobel | 20,416 | 44.1 | +14.0 |
| | Liberal Democrats | Greg Mulholland | 16,192 | 35.0 | −1.8 |
| | Conservative | Alan Lamb | 9,097 | 19.7 | +1.1 |
| | Green | Martin Hemingway | 582 | 1.3 | −5.7 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 4,224 | 9.1 | N/A |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 46,287 | 67.9 | −2.1 |
| | Labour Co-op gain from Liberal Democrats | Labour Co-op gain from Liberal Democrats | Swing | +7.9 | |
General election 2015: Leeds North West :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Liberal Democrats | Greg Mulholland | 15,948 | 36.8 | −10.7 |
| | Labour Co-op | Alex Sobel | 13,041 | 30.1 | +9.1 |
| | Conservative | Alex Story | 8,083 | 18.6 | −8.0 |
| | Green | Tim Goodall | 3,042 | 7.0 | +5.8 |
| | UKIP | Julian Metcalfe | 2,997 | 6.9 | +5.5 |
| | Yorkshire First | Bob Buxton | 143 | 0.3 | New |
| | Alliance for Green Socialism | Mike Davies | 79 | 0.2 | −0.1 |
| | Above and Beyond | Mark Flanagan | 24 | 0.1 | New |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 2,907 | 6.7 | −14.2 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 43,357 | 70.0 | +3.5 |
| | Liberal Democrats hold | Liberal Democrats hold | Swing | -9.9 | |
General election 2010: Leeds North West :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Liberal Democrats | Greg Mulholland | 20,653 | 47.5 | +10.6 |
| | Conservative | Julia Mulligan | 11,550 | 26.6 | −0.3 |
| | Labour | Judith Blake | 9,132 | 21.0 | −10.9 |
| | BNP | Geoffrey Bulmer | 766 | 1.8 | New |
| | UKIP | Mark Thackray | 600 | 1.4 | New |
| | Green | Martin Hemingway | 508 | 1.2 | −1.5 |
| | English Democrat | Alan Procter | 153 | 0.4 | −1.0 |
| | Alliance for Green Socialism | Trevor Bavage | 121 | 0.3 | −0.2 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 9,103 | 20.9 | |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 43,484 | 66.5 | +3.7 |
| | Liberal Democrats hold | Liberal Democrats hold | Swing | +5.4 | |

### Elections in the 2000s

General election 2005: Leeds North West :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Liberal Democrats | Greg Mulholland | 16,612 | 37.2 | +10.3 |
| | Labour | Judith Blake | 14,735 | 33.0 | −8.9 |
| | Conservative | George Lee | 11,510 | 25.7 | −3.9 |
| | Green | Martin Hemingway | 1,128 | 2.5 | New |
| | English Democrat | Adrian Knowles | 545 | 1.2 | New |
| | Alliance for Green Socialism | Jeannie Sutton | 181 | 0.4 | New |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 1,877 | 4.2 | N/A |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 44,711 | 62.4 | +4.2 |
| | Liberal Democrats gain from Labour | Liberal Democrats gain from Labour | Swing | +9.6 | |
General election 2001: Leeds North West :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Labour | Harold Best | 17,794 | 41.9 | +2.0 |
| | Conservative | Adam Pritchard | 12,558 | 29.6 | −2.5 |
| | Liberal Democrats | David Hall-Matthews | 11,431 | 26.9 | +3.2 |
| | UKIP | Simon Jones | 668 | 1.6 | New |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 5,236 | 12.3 | +2.1 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 42,451 | 58.2 | −11.5 |
| | Labour hold | Labour hold | Swing | | |

### Elections in the 1990s

General election 1997: Leeds North West :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Labour | Harold Best | 19,694 | 39.9 | +12.6 |
| | Conservative | Keith Hampson | 15,850 | 32.1 | −10.9 |
| | Liberal Democrats | Barbara Pearce | 11,689 | 23.7 | −4.1 |
| | Referendum | Sean Emmett | 1,325 | 2.7 | New |
| | Socialist Labour | Roger Lamb | 335 | 0.7 | New |
| | ProLife Alliance | Robert Toome | 251 | 0.5 | New |
| | Ronnie the Rhino | Daniel Duffy | 232 | 0.5 | New |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 3,844 | 10.2 | N/A |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 46,084 | 69.7 | −2.8 |
| | Labour gain from Conservative | Labour gain from Conservative | Swing | +11.8 | |
General election 1992: Leeds North West :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | Keith Hampson | 21,750 | 43.0 | −0.5 |
| | Liberal Democrats | Barbara Pearce | 14,079 | 27.8 | −5.7 |
| | Labour | Sue Egan | 13,782 | 27.3 | +5.6 |
| | Green | David Webb | 519 | 1.0 | −0.3 |
| | Liberal | Noel Nowosielski | 427 | 0.8 | New |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 7,671 | 15.2 | +5.1 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 50,557 | 72.5 | −3.2 |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Swing | +2.5 | |

### Elections in the 1980s

General election 1987: Leeds North West :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | Keith Hampson | 22,480 | 43.5 | −3.1 |
| | Liberal | Barry Peters | 17,279 | 33.5 | +4.5 |
| | Labour | Judith Thomas | 11,210 | 21.7 | −0.5 |
| | Green | A. Stevens | 663 | 1.3 | New |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 5,201 | 10.07 | −7.5 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 51,632 | 75.7 | +4.4 |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Swing | -3.8 | |
General election 1983: Leeds North West :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | Keith Hampson | 22,579 | 46.6 | −0.9 |
| | SDP | Norman Jones | 14,042 | 29.0 | New |
| | Labour | John Battle | 10,757 | 22.2 | −12.9 |
| | Ecology | A. Laurence | 673 | 1.4 | −0.3 |
| | Ind. Conservative | C. Haygreen | 437 | 0.9 | New |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 8,537 | 17.6 | +5.2 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 48,488 | 71.3 | −1.8 |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Swing | | |

### Elections in the 1970s

General election 1979: Leeds North West :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | Donald Kaberry | 23,837 | 47.48 | |
| | Labour | Peter O'Grady | 17,623 | 35.10 | |
| | Liberal | Laurence Keates | 7,899 | 15.73 | |
| | Ecology | K. Rushworth | 847 | 1.69 | New |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 6,214 | 12.38 | +3.05 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 50,206 | 73.08 | |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Swing | | |
General election October 1974: Leeds North West :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Conservative | Donald Kaberry | 19,243 | 44.62 |
| | Labour | I.G.K. Fenwick | 15,216 | 35.29 |
| | Liberal | David Rolfe | 8,663 | 20.09 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 4,027 | 9.33 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 43,122 | 66.28 |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Swing | |
General election February 1974: Leeds North West :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Conservative | Donald Kaberry | 21,995 | 44.73 |
| | Labour | I.G.K. Fenwick | 15,324 | 31.16 |
| | Liberal | S. Waldenburg | 11,853 | 24.11 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 6,671 | 13.57 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 49,172 | 76.22 |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Swing | |
General election 1970: Leeds North West :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | Donald Kaberry | 29,227 | 52.13 | |
| | Labour | Kenneth Woolmer | 20,795 | 37.09 | |
| | Liberal | J.R.W. Worrall | 6,048 | 10.79 | New |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 8,432 | 15.04 | |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 56,070 | 69.82 | |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Swing | | |

### Elections in the 1960s

General election 1966: Leeds North West :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Conservative | Donald Kaberry | 30,168 | 55.65 |
| | Labour | C.J. Morgan | 24,044 | 44.35 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 6,124 | 11.30 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 54,212 | 73.07 |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Swing | |
General election 1964: Leeds North West :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | Donald Kaberry | 29,859 | 51.97 | |
| | Labour | Dennis Burrill Matthews | 18,862 | 32.83 | |
| | Liberal | R.H.J. Rhodes | 8,728 | 15.19 | New |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 10,997 | 19.14 | |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 57,449 | 77.20 | |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Swing | | |

### Elections in the 1950s

General election 1959: Leeds North West :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Conservative | Donald Kaberry | 35,210 | 65.55 |
| | Labour | Dennis Burrill Matthews | 18,508 | 34.45 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 16,702 | 31.10 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 53,718 | 77.58 |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Swing | |
General election 1955: Leeds North West :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Conservative | Donald Kaberry | 31,923 | 65.80 |
| | Labour | Dennis Burrill Matthews | 16,594 | 34.20 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 15,329 | 31.60 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 48,517 | 75.64 |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Swing | |
General election 1951: Leeds North West :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Conservative | Donald Kaberry | 25,873 | 62.55 |
| | Labour | Marian Veitch | 15,490 | 37.45 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 10,383 | 25.10 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 41,363 | 82.42 |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Swing | |
General election 1950: Leeds North West :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | Donald Kaberry | 24,161 | 57.80 | |
| | Labour | Victor Mishcon | 14,562 | 34.84 | |
| | Liberal | Joseph Owen Hogley | 3,078 | 7.36 | |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 9,599 | 22.96 | |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 41,801 | 85.52 | |
| | Conservative win (new seat) | Conservative win (new seat) | Conservative win (new seat) | Conservative win (new seat) | Conservative win (new seat) |