Compiled by EveryElectionResult.com's data team · Last updated 2026-08-30
Harrogate was won by Conservative at the 1992 general election, with a majority of 12,589 votes over Liberal Democrat. This page covers every general election in Harrogate from 1950 to 1992.
Full Election History, 1950–1992
Election
Elected
Votes
Vote Share
Runner-up
Majority
Turnout
1950
Christopher York (Conservative)
28,582
68.5%
Edward Parris (Labour)
15,468 (37.1 pts)
81.2%
1951
Christopher York (Conservative)
28,806
70.6%
Christopher William Sewell (Labour)
16,785 (41.1 pts)
78.7%
1955
James Edward Ramsden (Conservative)
26,799
72.3%
Thomas Evers (Labour)
16,541 (44.6 pts)
71.9%
1959
James Edward Ramsden (Conservative)
29,466
74.3%
Frederick Bernard Singleton (Labour)
19,270 (48.6 pts)
74.5%
1964
James Edward Ramsden (Conservative)
24,474
57.6%
Barrington Malcolm Black (Liberal)
15,142 (35.7 pts)
77.0%
1966
James Ramsden (Conservative)
22,932
55.0%
Walter Greaves (Liberal)
13,414 (32.1 pts)
74.5%
1970
James Ramsden (Conservative)
26,167
59.8%
Walter Greaves (Liberal)
17,342 (39.6 pts)
70.0%
Feb 1974
Robert Banks (Conservative)
27,517
53.5%
Ian Bayley (Liberal)
11,789 (22.9 pts)
80.0%
Oct 1974
Robert Banks (Conservative)
24,583
53.9%
Ian Bayley (Liberal)
13,314 (29.2 pts)
70.5%
1979
Robert Banks (Conservative)
30,551
59.5%
Rodney Kent (Liberal)
18,530 (36.1 pts)
74.3%
1983
Robert Banks (Conservative)
30,269
60.2%
John Burney (Social Democratic Party)
15,888 (31.6 pts)
69.0%
1987
Robert Banks (Conservative)
31,167
55.6%
Jonathan Ramsden Leach (Social Democratic Party)
11,902 (21.2 pts)
74.1%
1992
Robert Banks (Conservative)
32,023
53.9%
Timothy John Hurren (Liberal Democrat)
12,589 (21.2 pts)
78.0%
Full Result Breakdown by Election
1950
Candidate
Party
Votes
Share
Elected
Christopher York
Conservative
28,582
68.5%
Yes
Edward Parris
Labour
13,114
31.5%
No
1951
Candidate
Party
Votes
Share
Elected
Christopher York
Conservative
28,806
70.6%
Yes
Christopher William Sewell
Labour
12,021
29.4%
No
1955
Candidate
Party
Votes
Share
Elected
James Edward Ramsden
Conservative
26,799
72.3%
Yes
Thomas Evers
Labour
10,258
27.7%
No
1959
Candidate
Party
Votes
Share
Elected
James Edward Ramsden
Conservative
29,466
74.3%
Yes
Frederick Bernard Singleton
Labour
10,196
25.7%
No
1964
Candidate
Party
Votes
Share
Elected
James Edward Ramsden
Conservative
24,474
57.6%
Yes
Barrington Malcolm Black
Liberal
9,332
22.0%
No
Edward Lyons
Labour
8,655
20.4%
No
1966
Candidate
Party
Votes
Share
Elected
James Ramsden
Conservative
22,932
55.0%
Yes
Walter Greaves
Liberal
9,518
22.8%
No
Reginald Holmes
Labour
9,267
22.2%
No
1970
Candidate
Party
Votes
Share
Elected
James Ramsden
Conservative
26,167
59.8%
Yes
Walter Greaves
Liberal
8,825
20.2%
No
Brian Hellowell
Labour
8,797
20.1%
No
Feb 1974
Candidate
Party
Votes
Share
Elected
Robert Banks
Conservative
27,517
53.5%
Yes
Ian Bayley
Liberal
15,728
30.6%
No
Michael Wheaton
Labour
6,084
11.8%
No
Andrew Brons
National Front
1,186
2.3%
No
James Edwin Stringfellow
Democratic Christian
875
1.7%
No
Oct 1974
Candidate
Party
Votes
Share
Elected
Robert Banks
Conservative
24,583
53.9%
Yes
Ian Bayley
Liberal
11,269
24.7%
No
Barry Seal
Labour
8,047
17.6%
No
Andrew Brons
National Front
1,030
2.3%
No
Cecil Margolis
Whig
719
1.6%
No
1979
Candidate
Party
Votes
Share
Elected
Robert Banks
Conservative
30,551
59.5%
Yes
Rodney Kent
Liberal
12,021
23.4%
No
Aidan Harold Fleming
Labour
8,221
16.0%
No
Dorothy Waite
National Front
585
1.1%
No
1983
Candidate
Party
Votes
Share
Elected
Robert Banks
Conservative
30,269
60.2%
Yes
John Burney
Social Democratic Party
14,381
28.6%
No
John Stephen Dixon
Labour
5,128
10.2%
No
David Carter Kelley
Reintroduction of Hanging and Corporal Punishment
316
0.6%
No
Paul Vessey
National Front
163
0.3%
No
1987
Candidate
Party
Votes
Share
Elected
Robert Banks
Conservative
31,167
55.6%
Yes
Jonathan Ramsden Leach
Social Democratic Party
19,265
34.3%
No
Andrew John Wright
Labour
5,671
10.1%
No
1992
Candidate
Party
Votes
Share
Elected
Robert Banks
Conservative
32,023
53.9%
Yes
Timothy John Hurren
Liberal Democrat
19,434
32.7%
No
Andrew John Wright
Labour
7,230
12.2%
No
Arnold Francis Warneken
Green
780
1.3%
No
Margin Over Time
Winning margin (percentage points) at each election, coloured by the winning party.
Trend
Harrogate has been contested at 13 general elections on record since 1950. Parties that have won a seat here over that span: Conservative.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who won Harrogate in the 1992 general election?
Conservative won Harrogate in 1992 with 32,023 votes (53.9%), a majority of 12,589 votes over Liberal Democrat in second place.
Which parties have won Harrogate since 1950?
Since 1950, Harrogate has been won by: Conservative.
What was the closest result in Harrogate?
The closest result on record for Harrogate was 1987, when Conservative beat Social Democratic Party by just 11,902 votes (21.2 percentage points).