Selby (UK Parliament constituency)

Selby is a parliamentary constituency in North Yorkshire, represented in the House of Commons of the Parliament of the United Kingdom. It elects one Member of Parliament (MP) by the first past the post system of election. The constituency existed from 1983 to 2010 prior to reformation in 2024.^[2] It is currently held by Keir Mather of the Labour Party, who was first elected as an MP for the predecessor seat of Selby and Ainsty at a by-election in July 2023.

Selby
County constituency for the House of Commons
Boundaries since 2024
Boundary of Selby in Yorkshire and the Humber
County	North Yorkshire/West Yorkshire (North Yorkshire until 2010)
Major settlements	Selby, Sherburn-in-Elmet, Kippax
Current constituency
Created	2024
Member of Parliament	Keir Mather (Labour)
Seats	One
Created from	Selby and Ainsty Elmet and Rothwell (part)
1983–2010
Created from	Barkston Ash, Howden, Goole and Thirsk & Malton[1]
Replaced by	Selby and Ainsty, York Outer

History

This was a safe Conservative seat from 1983 to 1997 then became a Labour marginal for the remainder of its first existence. It was a notional gain for Labour at the 2024 general election, on a swing of over 24%.

Boundaries

1983–2010

1983–1997: The District of Selby, and the District of Ryedale ward of Osbaldwick and Heworth.

The constituency covered the district of Selby and the south-eastern suburbs of the city of York (namely the parishes of Fulford, Heslington and Osbaldwick and Heworth Without). It included the University of York and the Drax and Eggborough power stations.

1997–2010: The District of Selby.

2007 Boundary Review

Following its review of parliamentary representation in York and North Yorkshire in the 2000s, the Boundary Commission for England created the new seat of Selby and Ainsty. This consisted of much of the former Selby constituency, minus the south-western suburbs of York which were included in the (also newly created) seat of York Outer, plus rural areas south and east of Harrogate formerly part of the abolished Vale of York constituency.

2023 Boundary Review

The 2023 periodic review of Westminster constituencies, which came into effect for the 2024 general election, recommended re-establishment of the constituency primarily from the abolished Selby and Ainsty constituency in North Yorkshire - excluding the Ainsty area and the North Yorkshire Council wards of Appleton Roebuck & Church Fenton and Tadcaster, and with the addition of the City of Leeds ward of Kippax and Methley in West Yorkshire.^[3]

Since 2024

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 City of Leeds ward of: Kippax & Methley;
• The District of Selby wards of: Barlby Village; Brayton; Byram & Brotherton; Camblesforth & Carlton; Cawood & Wistow; Derwent; Eggborough; Escrick; Hambleton; Monk Fryston; Riccall; Selby East; Selby West; Sherburn in Elmet; South Milford; Thorpe Willoughby; and Whitley.^[4]

However, before the new boundaries came into effect, the District of Selby was abolished and absorbed into the new unitary authority of North Yorkshire with effect from 1 April 2023.^[5] Consequently, the constituency now comprises the following from the 2024 general election:

• The City of Leeds ward of Kippax & Methley.

• The North Yorkshire electoral divisions of: Barlby & Riccall; Brayton & Barlow; Camblesforth & Carlton; Cawood & Escrick; Cliffe & North Duffield; Monk Fryston & South Milford; Osgoldcross; Selby East; Selby West; Sherburn in Elmet; Thorpe Willoughby & Hambleton.^[6]

Members of Parliament

MPs 1983–2010

Election		Member[7]	Party
	1983	Michael Alison	Conservative
	1997	John Grogan	Labour
	2010	constituency abolished: see Selby and Ainsty & York Outer

MPs since 2024

Selby and Ainsty prior to 2024

Election		Member	Party
	2024	Keir Mather	Labour

Elections

Elections in the 2020s

General election 2024: Selby^[8][9]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
	Labour	Keir Mather	22,788	46.3	+16.5
	Conservative	Charles Richardson	12,593	25.6	−32.4
	Reform UK	David John Burns	9,565	19.4	N/A
	Green	Angela Oldershaw	2,484	5.0	+2.0
	Liberal Democrats	Christian Vassie	1,792	3.6	−2.4
Majority			10,195	20.7	N/A
Turnout			49,222	63.1	−7.5
Registered electors			78,055
	Labour gain from Conservative		Swing	+24.5

• Keir Mather (Labour) ― Incumbent MP for Selby and Ainsty

Elections in the 2010s

2019 notional result[10]
Party		Vote	%
	Conservative	30,575	58.0
	Labour	15,737	29.8
	Liberal Democrats	3,165	6.0
	Others	1,678	3.2
	Green	1,602	3.0
Turnout		52,757	70.6
Electorate		74,761

Election results 1983–2010

Elections in the 1980s

General election 1983: Selby^[11]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
	Conservative	Michael Alison	26,712	56.7
	Liberal	Wilfred Whitaker	10,747	22.8
	Labour	Shirley Haines	9,687	20.6
Majority			15,965	33.9
Turnout			47,146	72.1
	Conservative win (new seat)

General election 1987: Selby^[12]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
	Conservative	Michael Alison	28,611	51.6	−5.1
	Labour	John Grogan	14,832	26.7	+6.1
	Liberal	James Longman	12,010	21.7	−1.1
Majority			13,779	24.9	−9.0
Turnout			55,453	77.69	+5.6
	Conservative hold		Swing

Elections in the 1990s

General election 1992: Selby^[13][14]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
	Conservative	Michael Alison	31,067	50.2	−1.4
	Labour	John Grogan	21,559	34.8	+8.1
	Liberal Democrats	Edward Batty	9,244	14.9	−6.8
Majority			9,508	15.4	−9.5
Turnout			61,870	80.2	+2.5
	Conservative hold		Swing	−4.7

General election 1997: Selby^{[15][16][17][18]}

Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
	Labour	John Grogan	25,838	45.9	+11.0
	Conservative	Ken Hind	22,002	39.1	−11.1
	Liberal Democrats	Edward Batty	6,778	12.0	−2.9
	Referendum	David Walker	1,162	2.1	New
	UKIP	P. Spence	536	1.0	New
Majority			3,836	6.8	N/A
Turnout			56,316	74.7	−5.5
	Labour gain from Conservative		Swing	+11.1

Elections in the 2000s

General election 2001: Selby^[19]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
	Labour	John Grogan	22,652	45.1	−0.8
	Conservative	Michael Mitchell	20,514	40.8	+1.7
	Liberal Democrats	Jeremy Wilcock	5,569	11.1	−0.9
	Green	Helen Kenwright	902	1.8	New
	UKIP	Graham Lewis	635	1.3	+0.3
Majority			2,138	4.3	−2.5
Turnout			50,272	65.0	−9.7
	Labour hold		Swing	−1.25

General election 2005: Selby^[20]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
	Labour	John Grogan	22,623	43.1	−2.0
	Conservative	Mark Menzies	22,156	42.2	+1.4
	Liberal Democrats	Ian Cuthbertson	7,770	14.8	+3.7
Majority			467	0.9	−3.4
Turnout			52,549	65.4	+0.4
	Labour hold		Swing	−1.7

See also

• List of parliamentary constituencies in North Yorkshire
• List of parliamentary constituencies in the Yorkshire and the Humber (region)