Ripon — UK General Election Results
Ripon was won by Conservative at the 1979 general election, with a majority of 16,203 votes over Liberal. This page covers every general election in Ripon from 1832 to 1979.
This constituency elected more than one MP at once in some years. Before the Redistribution of Seats Act 1885 (and in a shrinking number of boroughs through 1948), most UK constituencies elected two or more MPs together by "multi-member plurality" (block vote): each elector could cast one vote per available seat, and the top vote-getters overall were all elected. In those elections below, "Elected" lists every MP returned, "Votes" is the count that secured the last seat, and "Majority" is the gap between that seat and the first candidate who missed out.
Full Election History, 1832–1979
| Election | Elected | Votes | Vote Share | Runner-up | Majority | Turnout |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1832 | Thomas Kitchingman Staveley (Whig); Joshua Samuel Crompton (Whig) | 168 | 25.6% (top seat) | James Charles Dalbiac (Conservative) | 6 (0.9 pts) | 96.3% |
| 1835 | James Charles Dalbiac (Conservative); Thomas Pemberton (Conservative) | 235 | 40.6% (top seat) | Thomas Kitchingman Staveley (Whig) | 110 (18.1 pts) | 79.1% |
| 1837 | Thomas Pemberton (Conservative); Edward Burtenshaw Sugden (Conservative) | Elected unopposed — no other candidate stood, no vote count on record | 0.0% | |||
| 1841 | Thomas Pemberton (Conservative); Edward Burtenshaw Sugden (Conservative) | Elected unopposed — no other candidate stood, no vote count on record | 0.0% | |||
| 1847 | Edwin Lascelles (Conservative); James Robert George Graham (Peelite) | Elected unopposed — no other candidate stood, no vote count on record | 0.0% | |||
| 1852 | William Beckett (Conservative); Edwin Lascelles (Conservative) | 202 | 49.0% (top seat) | Augustus Newton (Radical) | 127 (23.4 pts) | 76.9% |
| 1857 | John Ashley Warre (Whig); John Greenwood (Whig) | Elected unopposed — no other candidate stood, no vote count on record | 0.0% | |||
| 1859 | John Greenwood (Liberal); John Ashley Warre (Liberal) | 205 | 48.6% (top seat) | Alfred Bates Richards (Liberal) | 174 (37.9 pts) | 68.1% |
| 1865 | Charles Wood (Liberal); Robert Kearsley (Liberal) | 189 | 37.3% (top seat) | John Greenwood (Liberal) | 16 (2.8 pts) | 82.9% |
| 1868 | John Hay (Liberal) | 554 | 57.6% | George Allanson Cayley (Conservative) | 146 (15.2 pts) | 85.0% |
| 1874 | Frederick Oliver Robinson (Liberal) | Elected unopposed — no other candidate stood, no vote count on record | 0.0% | |||
| 1880 | George Joachim Goschen (Liberal) | 591 | 62.0% | Francis Darwin (Conservative) | 229 (24.0 pts) | 87.7% |
| 1885 | William Harker (Liberal) | 3,985 | 51.1% | John Lloyd Wharton (Conservative) | 165 (2.1 pts) | 86.3% |
| 1886 | John Lloyd Wharton (Conservative) | 4,113 | 56.8% | Claude Ashley Charles Ponsonby (Liberal) | 988 (13.7 pts) | 80.0% |
| 1892 | John Lloyd Wharton (Conservative) | 4,268 | 53.9% | Henry Leetham (Liberal) | 611 (7.7 pts) | 77.7% |
| 1895 | John Lloyd Wharton (Conservative) | 4,435 | 54.3% | Robert Charles Phillimore (Liberal) | 702 (8.6 pts) | 79.9% |
| 1900 | John Lloyd Wharton (Conservative) | Elected unopposed — no other candidate stood, no vote count on record | 0.0% | |||
| 1906 | Henry Finnis Blosse Lynch (Liberal) | 5,645 | 51.4% | John Lloyd Wharton (Conservative) | 313 (2.9 pts) | 86.9% |
| Jan 1910 | Edward Frederick Lindley Wood (Conservative) | 6,363 | 55.4% | Henry Finnis Blosse Lynch (Liberal) | 1,244 (10.8 pts) | 89.3% |
| Dec 1910 | Edward Frederick Lindley Wood (Conservative) | 5,894 | 54.0% | Henry Norman Rae (Liberal) | 874 (8.0 pts) | 84.9% |
| 1918 | Edward Frederick Lindley Wood (Unionist) | Elected unopposed — no other candidate stood, no vote count on record | 0.0% | |||
| 1922 | Edward Frederick Lindley Wood (Unionist) | Elected unopposed — no other candidate stood, no vote count on record | 0.0% | |||
| 1923 | Edward Frederick Lindley Wood (Unionist) | Elected unopposed — no other candidate stood, no vote count on record | 0.0% | |||
| 1924 | Edward Frederick Lindley Wood (Unionist) | Elected unopposed — no other candidate stood, no vote count on record | 0.0% | |||
| 1929 | John Waller Hills (Unionist) | 23,173 | 55.1% | Frederick Boult (Liberal) | 8,631 (20.5 pts) | 76.2% |
| 1931 | John Waller Hills (Conservative) | 37,898 | 88.1% | Robert Joseph Hall (Labour) | 32,773 (76.2 pts) | 73.7% |
| 1935 | John Waller Hills (Conservative) | 30,804 | 77.2% | Robert Joseph Hall (Labour) | 21,688 (54.3 pts) | 68.6% |
| 1945 | Christopher York (Conservative) | 29,674 | 61.3% | Reginald Hartley (Labour) | 17,075 (35.3 pts) | 69.8% |
| 1950 | Malcolm Stoddart-Scott (Conservative) | 22,292 | 66.3% | William Sales Hill (Labour) | 10,975 (32.6 pts) | 84.0% |
| 1951 | Malcolm Stoddart-Scott (Conservative) | 23,047 | 68.4% | Sydney Andrews (Labour) | 12,420 (36.9 pts) | 83.1% |
| 1955 | Malcolm Stoddart-Scott (Conservative) | 21,977 | 68.9% | Eric Brierley (Labour) | 12,065 (37.8 pts) | 78.8% |
| 1959 | Sir Malcolm Stoddart-Scott (Conservative) | 22,757 | 69.9% | Joseph H Swann (Labour) | 12,966 (39.8 pts) | 79.0% |
| 1964 | Sir Malcolm Stoddart-Scott (Conservative) | 18,503 | 55.0% | Ronald HH Duncan (Liberal) | 10,689 (31.8 pts) | 80.6% |
| 1966 | Sir Malcolm Stoddart-Scott (Conservative) | 17,352 | 50.2% | Michael McGowan (Labour) | 8,745 (25.3 pts) | 78.9% |
| 1970 | Sir Malcolm Stoddart-Scott (Conservative) | 21,211 | 60.7% | David Daniel (Labour) | 12,064 (34.5 pts) | 73.7% |
| Feb 1974 | Keith Hampson (Conservative) | 21,080 | 49.6% | David Austick (Liberal) | 4,335 (10.2 pts) | 85.3% |
| Oct 1974 | Keith Hampson (Conservative) | 20,636 | 52.1% | David Austick (Liberal) | 7,004 (17.7 pts) | 78.9% |
| 1979 | Keith Hampson (Conservative) | 25,292 | 60.3% | Robert Fred Tennant (Liberal) | 16,203 (38.7 pts) | 78.8% |
Full Result Breakdown by Election
1832 (2 seats)
| Candidate | Party | Votes | Share | Elected |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Thomas Kitchingman Staveley | Whig | 168 | 25.6% | Yes |
| Joshua Samuel Crompton | Whig | 168 | 25.6% | Yes |
| James Charles Dalbiac | Conservative | 162 | 24.7% | No |
| William Markham | Conservative | 159 | 24.2% | No |
1835 (2 seats)
| Candidate | Party | Votes | Share | Elected |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| James Charles Dalbiac | Conservative | 246 | 40.6% | Yes |
| Thomas Pemberton | Conservative | 235 | 38.8% | Yes |
| Thomas Kitchingman Staveley | Whig | 125 | 20.6% | No |
1837 (2 seats)
| Candidate | Party | Votes | Share | Elected |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Thomas Pemberton | Conservative | Unopposed | Yes | |
| Edward Burtenshaw Sugden | Conservative | Unopposed | Yes | |
1841 (2 seats)
| Candidate | Party | Votes | Share | Elected |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Thomas Pemberton | Conservative | Unopposed | Yes | |
| Edward Burtenshaw Sugden | Conservative | Unopposed | Yes | |
1847 (2 seats)
| Candidate | Party | Votes | Share | Elected |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Edwin Lascelles | Conservative | Unopposed | Yes | |
| James Robert George Graham | Peelite | Unopposed | Yes | |
1852 (2 seats)
| Candidate | Party | Votes | Share | Elected |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| William Beckett | Conservative | 266 | 49.0% | Yes |
| Edwin Lascelles | Conservative | 202 | 37.2% | Yes |
| Augustus Newton | Radical | 75 | 13.8% | No |
1857 (2 seats)
| Candidate | Party | Votes | Share | Elected |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| John Ashley Warre | Whig | Unopposed | Yes | |
| John Greenwood | Whig | Unopposed | Yes | |
1859 (2 seats)
| Candidate | Party | Votes | Share | Elected |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| John Greenwood | Liberal | 223 | 48.6% | Yes |
| John Ashley Warre | Liberal | 205 | 44.7% | Yes |
| Alfred Bates Richards | Liberal | 31 | 6.8% | No |
1865 (2 seats)
| Candidate | Party | Votes | Share | Elected |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Charles Wood | Liberal | 215 | 37.3% | Yes |
| Robert Kearsley | Liberal | 189 | 32.8% | Yes |
| John Greenwood | Liberal | 173 | 30.0% | No |
1868
| Candidate | Party | Votes | Share | Elected |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| John Hay | Liberal | 554 | 57.6% | Yes |
| George Allanson Cayley | Conservative | 408 | 42.4% | No |
1874
| Candidate | Party | Votes | Share | Elected |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Frederick Oliver Robinson | Liberal | Unopposed | Yes | |
1880
| Candidate | Party | Votes | Share | Elected |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| George Joachim Goschen | Liberal | 591 | 62.0% | Yes |
| Francis Darwin | Conservative | 362 | 38.0% | No |
1885
| Candidate | Party | Votes | Share | Elected |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| William Harker | Liberal | 3,985 | 51.1% | Yes |
| John Lloyd Wharton | Conservative | 3,820 | 48.9% | No |
1886
| Candidate | Party | Votes | Share | Elected |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| John Lloyd Wharton | Conservative | 4,113 | 56.8% | Yes |
| Claude Ashley Charles Ponsonby | Liberal | 3,125 | 43.2% | No |
1892
| Candidate | Party | Votes | Share | Elected |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| John Lloyd Wharton | Conservative | 4,268 | 53.9% | Yes |
| Henry Leetham | Liberal | 3,657 | 46.1% | No |
1895
| Candidate | Party | Votes | Share | Elected |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| John Lloyd Wharton | Conservative | 4,435 | 54.3% | Yes |
| Robert Charles Phillimore | Liberal | 3,733 | 45.7% | No |
1900
| Candidate | Party | Votes | Share | Elected |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| John Lloyd Wharton | Conservative | Unopposed | Yes | |
1906
| Candidate | Party | Votes | Share | Elected |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Henry Finnis Blosse Lynch | Liberal | 5,645 | 51.4% | Yes |
| John Lloyd Wharton | Conservative | 5,332 | 48.6% | No |
Jan 1910
| Candidate | Party | Votes | Share | Elected |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Edward Frederick Lindley Wood | Conservative | 6,363 | 55.4% | Yes |
| Henry Finnis Blosse Lynch | Liberal | 5,119 | 44.6% | No |
Dec 1910
| Candidate | Party | Votes | Share | Elected |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Edward Frederick Lindley Wood | Conservative | 5,894 | 54.0% | Yes |
| Henry Norman Rae | Liberal | 5,020 | 46.0% | No |
1918
| Candidate | Party | Votes | Share | Elected |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Edward Frederick Lindley Wood | Unionist | Unopposed | Yes | |
1922
| Candidate | Party | Votes | Share | Elected |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Edward Frederick Lindley Wood | Unionist | Unopposed | Yes | |
1923
| Candidate | Party | Votes | Share | Elected |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Edward Frederick Lindley Wood | Unionist | Unopposed | Yes | |
1924
| Candidate | Party | Votes | Share | Elected |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Edward Frederick Lindley Wood | Unionist | Unopposed | Yes | |
1929
| Candidate | Party | Votes | Share | Elected |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| John Waller Hills | Unionist | 23,173 | 55.1% | Yes |
| Frederick Boult | Liberal | 14,542 | 34.6% | No |
| Arthur Godfrey | Labour | 4,339 | 10.3% | No |
1931
| Candidate | Party | Votes | Share | Elected |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| John Waller Hills | Conservative | 37,898 | 88.1% | Yes |
| Robert Joseph Hall | Labour | 5,125 | 11.9% | No |
1935
| Candidate | Party | Votes | Share | Elected |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| John Waller Hills | Conservative | 30,804 | 77.2% | Yes |
| Robert Joseph Hall | Labour | 9,116 | 22.8% | No |
1945
| Candidate | Party | Votes | Share | Elected |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Christopher York | Conservative | 29,674 | 61.3% | Yes |
| Reginald Hartley | Labour | 12,599 | 26.0% | No |
| Mabel Cowley | Liberal | 6,122 | 12.7% | No |
1950
| Candidate | Party | Votes | Share | Elected |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Malcolm Stoddart-Scott | Conservative | 22,292 | 66.3% | Yes |
| William Sales Hill | Labour | 11,317 | 33.7% | No |
1951
| Candidate | Party | Votes | Share | Elected |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Malcolm Stoddart-Scott | Conservative | 23,047 | 68.4% | Yes |
| Sydney Andrews | Labour | 10,627 | 31.6% | No |
1955
| Candidate | Party | Votes | Share | Elected |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Malcolm Stoddart-Scott | Conservative | 21,977 | 68.9% | Yes |
| Eric Brierley | Labour | 9,912 | 31.1% | No |
1959
| Candidate | Party | Votes | Share | Elected |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sir Malcolm Stoddart-Scott | Conservative | 22,757 | 69.9% | Yes |
| Joseph H Swann | Labour | 9,791 | 30.1% | No |
1964
| Candidate | Party | Votes | Share | Elected |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sir Malcolm Stoddart-Scott | Conservative | 18,503 | 55.0% | Yes |
| Ronald HH Duncan | Liberal | 7,814 | 23.2% | No |
| Peter A O'Grady | Labour | 7,341 | 21.8% | No |
1966
| Candidate | Party | Votes | Share | Elected |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sir Malcolm Stoddart-Scott | Conservative | 17,352 | 50.2% | Yes |
| Michael McGowan | Labour | 8,607 | 24.9% | No |
| Ronald Duncan | Liberal | 7,301 | 21.1% | No |
1970
| Candidate | Party | Votes | Share | Elected |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sir Malcolm Stoddart-Scott | Conservative | 21,211 | 60.7% | Yes |
| David Daniel | Labour | 9,147 | 26.2% | No |
| Valerie Craven | Liberal | 4,583 | 13.1% | No |
Feb 1974
| Candidate | Party | Votes | Share | Elected |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Keith Hampson | Conservative | 21,080 | 49.6% | Yes |
| David Austick | Liberal | 16,745 | 39.4% | No |
| David Mark English | Labour | 4,643 | 10.9% | No |
Oct 1974
| Candidate | Party | Votes | Share | Elected |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Keith Hampson | Conservative | 20,636 | 52.1% | Yes |
| David Austick | Liberal | 13,632 | 34.4% | No |
| Stephen Peter Meyer | Labour | 5,330 | 13.5% | No |
1979
| Candidate | Party | Votes | Share | Elected |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Keith Hampson | Conservative | 25,292 | 60.3% | Yes |
| Robert Fred Tennant | Liberal | 9,089 | 21.7% | No |
| William Michael Neil Davies | Labour | 6,749 | 16.1% | No |
| Alastair Douglas Laurence | Green | 781 | 1.9% | No |
Margin Over Time
Winning margin (percentage points) at each election, coloured by the winning party.
Trend
Ripon has been contested at 38 general elections on record since 1832. Parties that have won a seat here over that span: Whig, Conservative, Peelite, Liberal, Unionist.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who won Ripon in the 1979 general election?
Conservative won Ripon in 1979 with 25,292 votes (60.3%), a majority of 16,203 votes over Liberal in second place.
Which parties have won Ripon since 1832?
Since 1832, Ripon has been won by: Conservative, Liberal, Peelite, Unionist, Whig.
What was the closest result in Ripon?
The closest result on record for Ripon was 1832, when Whig beat Conservative by just 6 votes (0.9 percentage points).
Did Ripon ever elect more than one MP at a time?
Yes -- like most UK constituencies before the Redistribution of Seats Act 1885, Ripon elected multiple MPs at once in some elections on this page (a system called multi-member plurality, or 'block vote'), each voter casting one vote per available seat.