County North Yorkshire Created 1983 Number of members 1 | Electorate 77,098 (December 2010) Member of parliament Julian Smith | |
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Created from Skipton, Ripon, Harrogate, Thirsk & Malton, Keighley, Barkston Ash and Richmond (Yorks) European Parliament constituency Yorkshire and the Humber Major settlements Masham, Ripon, Settle, North Yorkshire, Skipton Replaced by Skipton, Ripon, Harrogate, Thirsk and Malton, Keighley, Barkston Ash, Richmond | ||
Skipton and Ripon is a constituency represented in the House of Commons of the UK Parliament since 2010 by Julian Smith, a Conservative.
Contents
Constituency profile
It is one of the safest seats in England, formed on an area with a long history of Conservative representation and with a large plurality of its voting-age population 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% only of its area as unemployment claimants, Skipton and Ripon had significantly lower than national average unemployment (c.f. 3.8%) in November 2012.
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-present: 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.
This area of the Yorkshire Dales covers the whole of the Craven district including the towns of Skipton, Bentham and Settle. It also covers the northern and western parts of the Borough of Harrogate district including the city of Ripon and towns of Pateley Bridge and Masham.
History
The constituency was created in 1983 from parts of the former seats of Skipton and Ripon.