Harrogate and Knaresborough

History

Before 1950 the two eponymous towns had been part of the Ripon constituency. The constituency was created as Harrogate and following boundary changes in 1997 the name was changed to 'Harrogate and Knaresborough'.

The current constituency embraces three former borough constituencies: Aldborough (now a suburb of Boroughbridge civil parish) and Boroughbridge, which were abolished as 'rotten boroughs' by the Reform Act 1832, and Knaresborough, abolished in 1885.

An area with little unemployment, a relatively large retired population and large neighbourhoods of high house prices the former Harrogate constituency was a safe Conservative seat. When former Chancellor Norman Lamont stood for the Harrogate and Knaresborough seat in the Labour landslide general election in 1997, Harrogate moved the way of other spa towns in England such as Bath, and more urban and less touristic Cheltenham, by returning a non-Conservative candidate. The Liberal Democrat MP Phil Willis was elected, and served until Andrew Jones regained the seat for his party on Willis's retirement in the 2010 general election with a swing of 9.1% and a margin of 1,039 votes.

Jones retained the seat until the 2024 general election, when Tom Gordon regained it for the Liberal Democrats, on a virtually identical percentage swing to that in 1997.

Boundaries

1997–2010: The Borough of Harrogate wards of Bilton, Duchy, East Central, Granby, Harlow, Knaresborough East, Knaresborough West, New Park, Pannal, Starbeck, Wedderburn, and West Central.

2010–2024: The Borough of Harrogate wards of Bilton, Boroughbridge, Claro, Granby, Harlow Moor, High Harrogate, Hookstone, Killinghall, Knaresborough East, Knaresborough King James, Knaresborough Scriven Park, Low Harrogate, New Park, Pannal, Rossett, Saltergate, Starbeck, Stray, and Woodfield.

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 Borough of Harrogate wards of: Claro; Harrogate Bilton Grange; Harrogate Bilton Woodfield; Harrogate Central; Harrogate Coppice Valley; Harrogate Duchy; Harrogate Fairfax; Harrogate Harlow; Harrogate High Harrogate; Harrogate Hookstone; Harrogate Kingsley; Harrogate New Park; Harrogate Oatlands; Harrogate Old Bilton; Harrogate Pannal; Harrogate St. Georges; Harrogate Saltergate; Harrogate Starbeck; Harrogate Stray; Harrogate Valley Gardens; Killinghall & Hampsthwaite; Knaresborough Aspin & Calcutt; Knaresborough Castle; Knaresborough Eastfield; Knaresborough Scriven Park.

Minor changes to align with revised ward boundaries.

However, before the new boundaries came into effect, the Borough of Harrogate was 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: Bilton & Nidd Gorge; Bilton Grange & New Park; Boroughbridge & Claro (majority); Coppice Valley & Duchy; Fairfax & Starbeck; Harlow & St Georges; High Harrogate & Kingsley; Killinghall, Hampsthwaite & Saltergate; Knaresborough East; Knaresborough West; Oatlands & Pannal; Stray, Woodlands & Hookstone; Valley Gardens & Central Harrogate.

As its name suggests, the constituency is centred on the towns of Harrogate and Knaresborough, with no parts more than 10 mi away from either.

Members of Parliament

Harrogate prior to 1997

Elections

Elections in the 2020s

Elections in the 2010s

| access-date = 13 May 2015}}

Elections in the 2000s

Elections in the 1990s

Notes

References

References

1. (15 June 2020). "Constituency data: electorates – House of Commons Library". Parliament UK.
2. "Property for Sale in Harrogate, North Yorkshire – Mouseprice".
3. (10 May 2010). "Harrogate and Knaresborough: Blow to Lib Dems as close-run race ends in loss". Johnston Press Digital Publishing.
4. "The Parliamentary Constituencies Order 2023".
5. "The North Yorkshire (Structural Changes) Order 2022".
6. "New Seat Details – Harrogate and Knaresborough".
7. {{Rayment-hc. h. 1. (March 2012)
8. "Harrogate and Knaresborough results". BBC News.
9. "Notice of Result of Poll".
10. "Notional results for a UK general election on 12 December 2019". [[UK Parliament]].
11. "Harrogate & Knaresborough Parliamentary constituency". BBC.
12. "Harrogate & Knaresborough parliamentary constituency". BBC News.
13. "Election Data 2015". [[Electoral Calculus]].
14. "Election Data 2010". [[Electoral Calculus]].
15. (7 May 2010). "UK > England > Yorkshire & the Humber > Harrogate & Knaresborough". BBC.
16. "Election Data 2005". [[Electoral Calculus]].
17. "Election Data 2001". [[Electoral Calculus]].
18. "Election Data 1997". [[Electoral Calculus]].