The constituency was a safe seat for the Conservative Party, which has held it continuously since 1910 (if including the 11 years by the allied Unionist Party from 1918), and in the 2010 general election Richmond produced the largest numerical and percentage majority for a Conservative, 62.8% of the vote.
The constituency consisted of, in the west, the entire Richmondshire district and, in the east, the northern part of Hambleton District. It was a mostly rural seat with a mostly affluent population.[note 3]
History
Richmond was one of the parliamentary boroughs in the Unreformed House of Commons that dates to the middle of its long existence, first being represented in 1585. Medieval royal charters had specifically exempted the town from sending members to Parliament;[4] at the time this was often seen as an expensive burden.
By the early eighteenth century it was controlled by the Yorke and Darcy families, who each nominated a member; the Darcys gained control in the 1760s and shortly afterwards the interest was purchased by Sir Lawrence Dundas, 1st Baronet, along with the Aske estate.[5] The Dundases or their nominees would retain control of the borough's representation for many years; there was no contested election between 1722 and 1839 and then not another until 1866. The last Dundas family member would not retire from the seat until 1885. During this period the seat was a safe one for the Whigs and later the Liberals; since around 1918 it has been a safe seat for the Conservative Party, with majorities often more than 40%.
From 1983 the seat was represented by the cabinet minister Leon Brittan, after boundary changes saw his Cleveland and Whitby seat abolished; however he resigned from the Commons in December 1988 in order to take up the position of vice-president of the European Commission.
1989 by-election
The ensuing by-election, in February 1989, was won by William Hague: it was the last by-election won by a Conservative candidate during the Conservative Governments of 1979–1997. Hague's win has been attributed in part to the decision by the remnants of the Social Democratic Party (those members that objected to the merger with the Liberal Party the previous year) to contest the election as well as the newly merged Social and Liberal Democrats (who subsequently renamed themselves the Liberal Democrats). The SDP candidate, local farmer Mike Potter, came second, and Hague's majority of 2,634 was considerably smaller than the number of votes (11,589) for the SLD candidate, Barbara Pearce. Despite the Labour landslide of 1997, they did not come close to winning the seat, which stayed Conservative with a majority of 10,000. Hague retained the seat at every general election from then on, building the Conservative majority to 23,336, until his decision to step down at the 2015 election.
1992 change in main opposition candidate
In 1992 the Labour candidate until a few weeks before the election, David Abrahams, was deselected following a series of rows within the local party over his personal life and business interests. It emerged in 2007 that he used the name "David Martin" when dealing with tenants in his various rental properties in the Newcastle area,[6] and that he had claimed that he lived with his wife and son, though he had never been married. Divorcee Anthea Bailey later told a local newspaper she and her 11-year-old son had posed as Mr Abrahams' family as part of a business arrangement so that Abrahams could create "the right impression".[7][8]
2001–2024
At the 2001 general election Richmond became the Conservatives' safest seat in the UK, both in terms of the actual numerical majority and by percentage, the seat being held by William Hague, then the Conservative leader. Although the numerical majority was surpassed by Buckingham at the 2005 election, Richmond has a smaller electorate and had a greater proportion of Conservative voters so retained the second-largest percentage majority. Again in 2010, Richmond was the safest Conservative seat in the country in terms of numerical and percentage majority,[9] though by 2019 it had slipped out of the top 15 safest Conservative seats.[10] It has been represented since May 2015 by Rishi Sunak, the former Prime Minister of the United Kingdom and leader of the Conservative Party.[2]
Boundaries
Map of 2010–2024 boundaries
1918–1950: The Borough of Richmond, the Urban Districts of Kirklington-cum-Upsland, Masham, and Northallerton, and the Rural Districts of Aysgarth, Bedale, Croft, Leyburn, Northallerton, Reeth, Richmond, Startforth, and Stokesley.
1950–1955: The Borough of Richmond, the Urban District of Northallerton, and the Rural Districts of Aysgarth, Croft, Leyburn, Masham, Northallerton, Reeth, Richmond, Startforth, and Stokesley.
1955–1974: As prior but with redrawn boundaries.
1974–1983: As prior but with redrawn boundaries.
1983–1997: The District of Richmondshire, and the District of Hambleton wards of Appleton Wiske, Bedale, Brompton, Broughton and Greenhow, Carlton Miniott, Crakehall, Great Ayton, Hillside, Leeming, Leeming Bar, Morton-on-Swale, Northallerton North East, Northallerton South East, Northallerton West, Osmotherley, Romanby, Romanby Broomfield, Rudby, Sowerby, Stokesley, Swainby, Tanfield, The Cowtons, The Thorntons, Thirsk, Topcliffe, and Whitestonecliffe.
1997–2010: The District of Richmondshire, and the District of Hambleton wards of Appleton Wiske, Brompton, Broughton and Greenhow, Great Ayton, Leeming Bar, Morton-on-Swale, Northallerton North East, Northallerton South East, Northallerton West, Osmotherley, Romanby, Romanby Broomfield, Rudby, Stokesley, Swainby, and The Cowtons.
2010–2024: The District of Richmondshire, and the District of Hambleton wards of Bedale, Brompton, Broughton and Greenhow, Cowtons, Crakehall, Great Ayton, Leeming, Leeming Bar, Morton-on-Swale, Northallerton Broomfield, Northallerton Central, Northallerton North, Osmotherley, Romanby, Rudby, Stokesley, Swainby, and Tanfield.
Palmer resigned after being appointed Lord Chancellor and being elevated to the peerage, becoming Lord Selborne.
Dundas succeeded to the peerage, becoming Earl of Zetland.
Elections in the 1880s
Elections in the 1890s
Elections in the 1900s
Elections in the 1910s
General Election 1914–15:
Another General Election was required to take place before the end of 1915. The political parties had been making preparations for an election to take place and by July 1914, the following candidates had been selected;
^The latest 2011 census statistics include minimal percentages of social housing and welfare recipience.
^This was the Conservative Party's highest vote share in the 2010 General Election, with William Hague securing 62.8% of the vote.[41]
References
^"Constituency data: electorates – House of Commons Library". Parliament UK. 15 June 2020. Retrieved 22 July 2020.
^ a b"Rishi Sunak warns of profound economic challenges after winning race to become prime minister". BBC News. 23 October 2022. Retrieved 24 October 2022.
^"The 2023 Review of Parliamentary Constituency Boundaries in England – Volume one: Report – Yorkshire and the Humber | Boundary Commission for England". boundarycommissionforengland.independent.gov.uk. Retrieved 5 August 2023.
^"Richmond 1604–1629". History of Parliament.
^"Richmond 1754–1790". History of Parliament.
^Profile: reclusive Labour donor David Abrahams The Times – 26 November 2007
^Colin Patterson (2 December 2007). "How Sunday Sun broke first David Abrahams story". Sunday Sun. Retrieved 2 December 2007.
^Profile of David Abrahams BBC News – 27 November 2007
^Hough, David (8 February 2013). Marginal Seats (PDF) (Report). House of Commons Library. Standard Note: SN/SG/06549. Retrieved 29 May 2024.
^Elise Uberoi; Carl Baker; Richard Cracknell; Grahame Allen; Nerys Roberts; Cassie Barton; Georgina Sturge; Shadi Danechi; Rachael Harker; Paul Bolton; Rod McInnes; Chris Watson; Noel Dempsey; Lukas Audicka (28 January 2020). General Election 2019: results and analysis (PDF) (Report) (2nd ed.). House of Commons Library. CBP 8749. Retrieved 29 May 2024.
^ a b c d e f"History of Parliament". History of Parliament trust. Retrieved 16 October 2011.
^ a b cLeigh Rayment's Historical List of MPs – Constituencies beginning with "R" (part 1)
^At the general election of 1727, Wyvill and Bathurst were returned as elected, but on petition they were unseated in favour of Yorke and Darcy, the dispute turning on who had the right to vote
^Sir Conyers Darcy was re-elected in 1747 but had also been elected for Yorkshire, which he chose to represent, and did not sit again for Richmond
^Sir Lawrence Dundas was also elected for Edinburgh, which he chose to represent, and did not sit for Richmond
^Thomas Dundas was also elected for Stirlingshire, which he chose to represent, and did not sit for Richmond in this parliament
^ a b c d e f g hBritish Parliamentary Election Results 1885–1918, FWS Craig
^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r s t u v w x y zStooks Smith, Henry (1845). The Parliaments of England, from 1st George I., to the Present Time. Vol II: Oxfordshire to Wales Inclusive. London: Simpkin, Marshall, & Co. pp. 150–155, 162–164. Retrieved 29 November 2018 – via Google Books.
^ a b c dChurton, Edward (1838). The Assembled Commons or Parliamentary Biographer: 1838. pp. 76, 193, 211. Retrieved 29 November 2018 – via Google Books.
^ a b c d eMosse, Richard Bartholomew (1838). The Parliamentary Guide: a concise history of the Members of both Houses, etc. pp. 157, 218. Retrieved 29 November 2018 – via Google Books.
^ a b"Richmond Election". The Pilot. 18 March 1839. p. 2. Retrieved 29 November 2018 – via British Newspaper Archive.
^ a b"London, Monday, March 11, 1839". Hampshire Telegraph. 18 March 1839. p. 1. Retrieved 29 November 2018 – via British Newspaper Archive.
^ a b"North-Riding Election". Yorkshire Gazette. 14 March 1857. pp. 7–8. Retrieved 19 August 2018 – via British Newspaper Archive.
^ a b c"Evening Mail, from Wednesday, June 23, to Friday, June 25, 1841". Evening Mail. 25 June 1841. p. 6. Retrieved 29 November 2018 – via British Newspaper Archive.
^Styled Lord Dundas after his father was created an Earl in 1838
^"Electoral Decisions". Northern Star and Leeds General Advertiser. 3 July 1841. p. 24. Retrieved 24 June 2018 – via British Newspaper Archive.
^"Members Returned". Norfolk News. 7 August 1847. p. 2. Retrieved 24 June 2018 – via British Newspaper Archive.
^Stooks Smith, Henry. (1973) [1844–1850]. Craig, F. W. S. (ed.). The Parliaments of England (2nd ed.). Chichester: Parliamentary Research Services. pp. 160, 235–237. ISBN 0-900178-13-2.
^Ollivier, John (1841). Ollivier's parliamentary and political director. p. 19. Retrieved 29 November 2018.
^ a b"Wilts and Gloucestershire Standard". 10 July 1852. p. 3. Retrieved 1 July 2018 – via British Newspaper Archive.
^"General Election". Manchester Courier and Lancashire General Advertiser. 15 July 1837. p. 3. Retrieved 11 November 2018 – via British Newspaper Archive.
^Later Sir George Elliott
^"Electoral and elections documents: Statement of Persons Nominated Richmond (Yorks) & Notice of Poll". Hambleton District Council. Retrieved 15 November 2019.
^Minting, Stuart (13 December 2019). "Rishi Sunak increases Conservative majority in Richmond". Darlington and Stockton Times. Retrieved 13 December 2019.
^"Statement of Persons Nominated" (PDF). Hambleton District Council. Retrieved 13 May 2017.
^"BBC Election Site". BBC. Retrieved 10 June 2017.
^"Election Data 2015". Electoral Calculus. Archived from the original on 17 October 2015. Retrieved 17 October 2015.
^"Richmond (Yorks)". BBC News. Retrieved 13 May 2015.
^"Election Data 2010". Electoral Calculus. Archived from the original on 26 July 2013. Retrieved 17 October 2015.
^"Richmond [Yorks]". BBC News. Retrieved 7 May 2010.
^"The UK General Election 2010 In-depth" (PDF). electoral-reform.org.uk. 6 May 2010. p. 32. Retrieved 6 November 2020.
^"Election Data 2005". Electoral Calculus. Archived from the original on 15 October 2011. Retrieved 18 October 2015.
^"Election Data 2001". Electoral Calculus. Archived from the original on 15 October 2011. Retrieved 18 October 2015.
^"Election Data 1997". Electoral Calculus. Archived from the original on 15 October 2011. Retrieved 18 October 2015.
^"Election Data 1992". Electoral Calculus. Archived from the original on 15 October 2011. Retrieved 18 October 2015.
^"Politics Resources". Election 1992. Politics Resources. 9 April 1992. Retrieved 6 December 2010.
^"Election Data 1987". Electoral Calculus. Archived from the original on 15 October 2011. Retrieved 18 October 2015.
^"Election Data 1983". Electoral Calculus. Archived from the original on 15 October 2011. Retrieved 18 October 2015.
^ a b c d eCraig, F. W. S. (1983). British parliamentary election results 1918–1949 (3 ed.). Chichester: Parliamentary Research Services. ISBN 0-900178-06-X.
^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r s t uCraig, F. W. S., ed. (1977). British Parliamentary Election Results 1832–1885 (e-book) (1st ed.). London: Macmillan Press. ISBN 978-1-349-02349-3.
^ a bCasey, Martin. "Richmond". The History of Parliament. Retrieved 21 April 2020.
Sources
D. Brunton & D. H. Pennington, Members of the Long Parliament (London: George Allen & Unwin, 1954)
Cobbett's Parliamentary history of England, from the Norman Conquest in 1066 to the year 1803 (London: Thomas Hansard, 1808) [1]
F. W. S. Craig, British Parliamentary Election Results 1832–1885 (2nd edition, Aldershot: Parliamentary Research Services, 1989)
J. Holladay Philbin, Parliamentary Representation 1832 – England and Wales (New Haven: Yale University Press, 1965)
Henry Stooks Smith, The Parliaments of England from 1715 to 1847 (2nd edition, edited by FWS Craig – Chichester: Parliamentary Reference Publications, 1973)
The Constitutional Yearbook for 1913 (London: National Unionist Association)
External links
Richmond (Yorks) UK Parliament constituency (boundaries April 2010 – May 2024) at MapIt UK