# 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. It includes the whole of the former Craven district and the northern and western parts of the former Borough of Harrogate district. 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.
At 1.6%, Skipton and Ripon had significantly lower than national average unemployment (3.8%) in November 2012.

## History

The constituency was created in 1983 from the parts of the former seats of Skipton and Ripon within the county of North Yorkshire.
Before the 2024 election, it was one of the safest seats in England, formed from 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.
In 2024, the Conservative majority over Labour was cut from 40.4% to 3.1%.

## Boundaries
### Historic

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.

### Current

Under the 2023 periodic review of Westminster constituencies, the seat was defined as being composed of the following as they existed on 1 December 2020:
* The District of Craven.
* 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; Wathvale.
Minor changes to take account of changes to ward boundaries in the Borough of Harrogate.
However, before the new boundaries came into effect, the District of Craven and the Borough of Harrogate were abolished and absorbed into the new unitary authority of North Yorkshire with effect from 1 April 2023. Consequently, the constituency now comprises the following from the 2024 general election:
* The District of North Yorkshire electoral districts of: Aire Valley; Bentham & Ingleton; Glusburn, Cross Hills & Sutton-in-Craven; Masham & Fountains; Mid Craven; Pateley Bridge & Nidderdale; Ripon Minster & Moorside; Ripon Ure Bank & Spa; Settle & Penyghent; Skipton East & South; Skipton North & Embsay-with-Eastby; Skipton West & West Craven; Washburn & Birstwith; Wathvale & Bishop Monkton (part); Wharfedale.

## Members of Parliament

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

## Elections
### Elections in the 2020s

General election 2024: Skipton and Ripon :
| Party | 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 | N/A |
| | 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 | N/A |
| | Heritage | Guy Phoenix | 158 | 0.3 | N/A |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 1,650 | 3.1 | −37.3 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 53,450 | 67.4 | −6.6 |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 79,251 | | |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Swing | −18.3 | |

### Elections in the 2010s

2019 notional result :
| Party | Party | Vote | % |
| | Conservative | 33,416 | 58.9 |
| | Labour | 10,899 | 19.2 |
| | Liberal Democrats | 8,634 | 15.2 |
| | Green | 2,693 | 4.7 |
| | Others | 1,131 | 2.0 |
| Turnout | Turnout | 56,773 | 74.0 |
| Electorate | Electorate | 76,758 |
General election 2019: Skipton and Ripon :
| Party | 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 | N/A |
| | Green | Andy Brown | 2,748 | 4.7 | −1.7 |
| | Yorkshire | Jack Render | 1,131 | 1.9 | −0.7 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 23,694 | 40.4 | +6.0 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 58,724 | 74.6 | +0.2 |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Swing | +3.0 | |
General election 2017: Skipton and Ripon :
| Party | 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 | N/A |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 19,985 | 34.4 | −3.6 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 58,138 | 74.4 | +6.8 |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Swing | −1.8 | |
In 2017, the Liberal Democrats stood aside and endorsed the Green Party.
General election 2015: Skipton and Ripon :
| Party | 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 | N/A |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 20,761 | 38.0 | +19.8 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 54,559 | 71.6 | +0.9 |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Swing | −1.2 | |
General election 2010: Skipton and Ripon :
| Party | 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 | N/A |
| | Independent | Roger Bell | 315 | 0.6 | N/A |
| | The Youth Party | Dylan Gilligan | 95 | 0.2 | N/A |
| | Virtue Currency Cognitive Appraisal Party | Bob Leakey | 84 | 0.2 | −0.4 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 9,950 | 18.2 | −4.8 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 54,724 | 70.7 | +4.6 |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Swing | −2.6 | |

### Elections in the 2000s

General election 2005: Skipton and Ripon :
| Party | 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 | N/A |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 11,620 | 23.0 | −3.3 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 50,521 | 72.6 | +6.5 |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Swing | | |
General election 2001: Skipton and Ripon :
| Party | 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 | N/A |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 12,930 | 26.3 | +5.0 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 49,126 | 66.1 | −8.6 |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Swing | | |

### Elections in the 1990s

General election 1997: Skipton and Ripon :
| Party | 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 | N/A |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 11,620 | 21.3 | −10.1 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 54,351 | 74.7 | −6.6 |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Swing | −5.1 | |
General election 1992: Skipton and Ripon :
| Party | 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 | Majority | Majority | 19,330 | 31.4 | +0.8 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 61,522 | 81.3 | +3.5 |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Swing | +0.4 | |

### Elections in the 1980s

General election 1987: Skipton and Ripon :
| Party | 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 | N/A |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 17,174 | 30.6 | +1.6 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 56,171 | 77.8 | +2.9 |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Swing | +0.9 | |
General election 1983: Skipton and Ripon :
| Party | 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 | Majority | Majority | 15,046 | 29.0 | |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 52,016 | 74.9 | |
| | Conservative win (new seat) | Conservative win (new seat) | Conservative win (new seat) | Conservative win (new seat) | Conservative win (new seat) |