# Ryedale (UK Parliament constituency)

54°08′20″N 0°47′24″W﻿ / ﻿54.139°N 0.79°W﻿ / 54.139; -0.79
Ryedale was a constituency in North Yorkshire represented in the House of Commons of the Parliament of the United Kingdom. It elected one Member of Parliament (MP) by the first past the post system of election. It was created in 1983 and abolished in 2010.

## History

This was traditionally a safe Conservative seat, although it was briefly taken by Elizabeth Shields for the Liberal Party, following a by-election in 1986 held following the death of MP John Spence.

## Boundaries

1983–1997: The District of Ryedale wards of Amotherby, Ampleforth, Birdsall, Clifton Without, Dales, Ebberston, Haxby North East, Haxby West, Helmsley, Hovingham, Huntington North, Huntington South, Kirby Misperton, Kirkbymoorside, Malton, New Earswick, Norton, Pickering, Rawcliffe, Rillington, Sherburn, Sheriff Hutton, Skelton, Stockton and Bossall, Strensall, Thornton Dale, and Wigginton, the District of Hambleton wards of Crayke, Easingwold, Helperby, Huby-Sutton, Shipton, Stillington, and Tollerton, and the Borough of Scarborough wards of Filey and Hertford.
1997–2010: The District of Ryedale wards of Amotherby, Ampleforth, Birdsall, Dales, Ebberston, Helmsley, Hovingham, Huntington North, Huntington South, Kirby Misperton, Kirkbymoorside, Malton, Norton, Osbaldwick and Heworth, Pickering, Rillington, Sherburn, Sheriff Hutton, Stockton and Bosall, Strensall, and Thornton Dale, and the Borough of Scarborough wards of Filey and Hertford.
The constituency was created in 1983 and at the time of its abolition in 2010, covered Ryedale (including Malton, Norton-on-Derwent, Helmsley and Pickering), Filey and the north eastern suburbs of York (including Huntington, Strensall, Osbaldwick and Heworth Without).

### Boundary review

Following the Boundary Commission for England's review of parliamentary representation in North Yorkshire, Ryedale constituency was abolished, with its electoral wards being used to form a new Thirsk and Malton seat. These changes were implemented in 2010.

## Members of Parliament

| Election | Member | Party | Notes |
| 1983 | John Spence | Conservative | Previously MP for Thirsk and Malton from 1974. Died March 1986 |
| 1986 by-election | Elizabeth Shields | Liberal | Defeated at 1987 general election |
| 1987 | John Greenway | Conservative | Retired 2010, following deselection by constituency party due to boundary changes |
| 2010 | constituency abolished: see Thirsk and Malton | constituency abolished: see Thirsk and Malton | constituency abolished: see Thirsk and Malton |

## Elections
### Elections in the 2000s

General election 2005: Ryedale :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | John Greenway | 21,251 | 48.2 | +1.0 |
| | Liberal Democrats | Gordon Beever | 10,782 | 24.4 | −11.7 |
| | Labour | Paul Blanchard | 9,148 | 20.7 | +6.0 |
| | UKIP | Stephen Feaster | 1,522 | 3.4 | +1.4 |
| | Liberal | John Clark | 1,417 | 3.2 | New |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 10,469 | 23.8 | +12.7 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 44,120 | 65.1 | −0.6 |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Swing | +6.3 | |
General election 2001: Ryedale :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | John Greenway | 20,711 | 47.2 | +3.4 |
| | Liberal Democrats | Keith Orrell | 15,836 | 36.1 | +2.7 |
| | Labour | David B. Ellis | 6,470 | 14.7 | −3.3 |
| | UKIP | Stephen Feaster | 882 | 2.0 | +0.1 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 4,875 | 11.1 | +0.7 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 43,899 | 65.7 | −9.1 |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Swing | | |

### Elections in the 1990s

General election 1997: Ryedale :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | John Greenway | 21,351 | 43.8 | −11.6 |
| | Liberal Democrats | Keith Orrell | 16,293 | 33.4 | +3.4 |
| | Labour | Alison M. Hiles | 8,762 | 18.0 | +3.3 |
| | Referendum | John E. Mackfall | 1,460 | 3.0 | New |
| | UKIP | Stephen Feaster | 917 | 1.9 | New |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 5,038 | 10.4 | −15.0 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 48,783 | 74.8 | −6.9 |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Swing | −7.5 | |
General election 1992: Ryedale :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | John Greenway | 39,888 | 56.1 | +2.8 |
| | Liberal Democrats | Elizabeth Shields | 21,449 | 30.1 | −8.5 |
| | Labour | John Healey | 9,812 | 13.8 | +5.7 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 18,439 | 26.0 | +11.3 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 71,149 | 81.7 | +2.5 |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Swing | +5.6 | |

### Elections in the 1980s

General election 1987: Ryedale :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | John Greenway | 35,149 | 53.3 | −5.9 |
| | Alliance (Liberal) | Elizabeth Shields | 25,409 | 38.6 | +8.1 |
| | Labour | John Beighton | 5,340 | 8.1 | −2.2 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 9,740 | 14.7 | −14.0 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 65,988 | 79.2 | +7.4 |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Swing | | |
1986 Ryedale by-election :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Alliance (Liberal) | Elizabeth Shields | 27,612 | 50.3 | +19.8 |
| | Conservative | Neil Balfour | 22,672 | 41.3 | −17.9 |
| | Labour | Shirley Haines | 4,633 | 8.4 | −1.9 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 4,940 | 9.0 | N/A |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 54,917 | 67.3 | −4.5 |
| | Liberal gain from Conservative | Liberal gain from Conservative | Swing | +19.0 | |
General election 1983: Ryedale :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | John Spence | 33,312 | 59.2 | |
| | Alliance (Liberal) | Elizabeth Shields | 17,170 | 30.5 | |
| | Labour | Philip Bloom | 5,816 | 10.3 | |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 16,142 | 28.7 | |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 56,298 | 71.8 | |
| | Conservative win (new seat) | Conservative win (new seat) | Conservative win (new seat) | Conservative win (new seat) | Conservative win (new seat) |