| City of York | |
| Parliament: | uk |
| Map1: | York |
| Map2: | EnglandNorthYorkshire |
| Map Entity: | North Yorkshire |
| Map Year: | 2005 |
| Year: | 1265 |
| Abolished: | 2010 |
| Type: | Borough |
| Region: | England |
| Elects Howmany: | One |
| Towns: | York |
York was a constituency represented in the House of Commons of the Parliament of the United Kingdom from 1265 until 2010. It elected two Members of Parliament (MPs) until 1918, and one thereafter under the first-past-the-post system of election. From 1997 to 2010 it was known as City of York.
This constituency area tracked the municipal government area of York. Each general revision of English constituencies from 1885 would redefine the York constituency to include any changes to the city council area since the previous revision.
| Prescription | The ancient borough, or "city and liberty", of York. | 2720acres[1] | A freeman borough in which freedom of the city ("citizenship") could be acquired by patrimony (inheritance), servitude (apprenticeship) or purchase.[2] [3] [4] The "city" was the medieval walled city, but the boundary of the surrounding "liberty" was uncertain. The Minster Yard, an extra-parochial place around York Minster, was excluded from the ancient and parliamentary borough, as was York Castle. Although the Ainsty to the west of the city was annexed to the county of the city in 1449 by letters patent,[5] it was not annexed to the borough; patrimony or servitude in the Ainsty did not make one eligible for citizenship, and Ainsty forty shilling freeholders voted for Yorkshire MPs (confirmed in 1736[6]) rather than York MPs. Freeholdings within the borough gave no franchise.[7] | ||
| 1832 | Parliamentary Boundaries Act 1832 | The ancient borough plus two extensions encompassing urbanised parts of the adjoining townships: one to the north, through Clifton and Heworth between the River Ouse and Tang Hall Beck; the other to the southeast through Fulford.[8] | 2789acres[9] | The Parliamentary Boundaries Act specified the complete boundary explicitly, to resolve uncertainty over the extent of the "liberty", especially at the Knavesmire, unresolved until the Ordnance Survey mapped the area in detail in 1852.[10] | |
| Redistribution of Seats Act 1885 | The previous parliamentary borough of York plus the current (1884) boundaries of the municipal borough of York.[11] | 3591acres[12] | The Representation of the People Act 1884 was a partial reform from a property-based franchise towards a residence-based one, with a grandfather clause protecting those who would otherwise have lost their vote. The broader municipal boundary defined the reformed franchise, while the older parliamentary boundary was for the grandfathered property owners. | ||
| 1918 | Representation of the People Act 1918 | The current (1893) boundaries of the county borough and city of York, including York Castle.[13] | 3730acres[14] | The representation was also reduced from two members to one. As late as 1951 there was uncertainty over whether the Municipal Corporations Act 1835 had brought the castle within the municipal borough (county borough from 1889);[15] it was included explicitly by the 1918 act but implicitly by the 1948 act. | |
| 1950 | Representation of the People Act 1948 | The current (1937) boundaries of the county borough and city of York. | 6409acres[16] | ||
| 1964 | Parliamentary Constituencies (Leeds, York and Barkston Ash) Order, 1960[17] | The current (1957) boundaries of the county borough and city of York. | 6933acres[18] | Consequent on the 1959 report of the Boundary Commission for England[19] | |
| Feb. 1974 | Parliamentary Constituencies (England) Order 1970[20] | The current (1968) boundaries of the county borough and city of York. | 2946ha[21] | Consequent on the Second Periodic Review of Westminster constituencies | |
| 1983 | Parliamentary Constituencies (England) Order 1983[22] | The current (1968) boundaries of the non-metropolitan district and city of York. | 2946ha[23] | Consequent on the Third Periodic Review of Westminster constituencies | |
| 1997 | Parliamentary Constituencies (England) Order 1995[24] | The current (1968) boundaries of the non-metropolitan district and city of York. | Consequent on the Fourth Periodic Review of Westminster constituencies. The name of the constituency was also changed from "York" to "City of York". The non-metropolitan district of York was abolished in 1996 and subsumed into a new, larger, unitary authority named the City of York;[25] however, this did not affect the parliamentary constituency boundary. |
By virtue of its importance, York was regularly represented in Parliament from an early date: it had been required to send delegates to the assembly of 1265, but no actual returns survive until the end of the 13th century. The structure of the civic government of the city provided the basis by which it elected its Parliamentary representatives. In the years following the city's Royal Charter, granted in the 1150s, power was held by a Lord Mayor and associated bailiffs. Further expansion of governance saw the establishment of coroners, sheriffs and aldermen. The appointment of twelve aldermen in 1399 led to the establishment of the City Council. Subsequently, other tiers of governance, such as the probi homines and the communitas, would eventually provide the bodies for the election of MPs. Those who occupied such positions were all freemen of the city and frequently came form the mercantile classes rather than the nobility, and were considered the electorate of the city. In the beginnings of the constituency this electorate was about twenty four, but had risen to around seventy five by 1690. Early in the 18th century, the number of freemen being made had increased significantly and this further increased the electorate. By the election of 1830, there were about 3,800 registered voters.[26]
There was a period between 1581 and 1597 where elections were a two-stage process. In the first stage, member of the common chamber of the council and 50 freeholders cast votes and the top four contenders would progress to a second ballot. This ballot was conducted by the Lord Mayor and the aldermen and the top two would be returned as MPs. In 1597 this process was reduced to a single ballot whereby all of those in both the commons and assembly of York would cast two votes. The two contenders with the most votes were returned as MP. From 1628 the process became fully open, as previously the process had an element of pre-approval by the Lord mayor and the aldermen.[26]
A borough constituency consisting of the city of York has been represented in every Parliament since the Model Parliament of 1295. Until 1918, it returned two MPs; since then it has returned one. Until 1997, when its official name became City of York with no boundary changes,[27] the constituency was usually simply called York.
Following their review of parliamentary representation in North Yorkshire, the Boundary Commission for England recommended the creation of two new seats for the City of York. Both the City of York and Vale of York seats were abolished in 2010 and replaced by two new constituencies, namely York Central and York Outer.
| Parliament | First member | Second member | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1294 | Nicholas de Selby | Roger Basy[28] | |
| 1297 | John le Espicer | Nicholas Clarevaux | |
| 1297 | John le Sezevaux | Gilbert de Arnald | |
| 1299 | John de Askham | Andrew de Bolingbroke | |
| 1304 | Thomas le Anguiler | John de Sezevaux | |
| 1305 | John de Graham | Roger de Roston | |
| 1306 | John de Askam | John de Sezevaux | |
| 1307 | John de Askam | John de Ebor | |
| 1308 | Nicholas Grantbridge | ||
| 1310 | Thomas Aguiler | ||
| 1311 | Thomas de Alwerthorpe | John Segge | |
| 1312 | Thomas de Redness | Nicholas Sezevaux | |
| 1313 | John de Appelton | ||
| 1314 | John de Ughtred | ||
| 1318 | John de Sexdecim Vallibus (Sezevaux) | Henry Calvert | |
| 1321 | Henry Calvert | Thomas de Redness | |
| 1325 | John de Askam | Simon de Kingston | |
| 1326 | Henry de Bolton | ||
| 1327 | Nicholas Sezevaux | ||
| 1327 | Thomas de Montefort | ||
| 1328 | William de Baronia | ||
| 1328 | John de Burton | ||
| 1329 | John de Kyrkeby | ||
| 1349 | John de Womme | Richard de Saugerry | |
| 1340 | Hamo Hassoy | Gilbert Picklinton | |
| 1341 | Walter Keldsterne | Henry Golbeter | |
| 1341 | Thomas fil Richard | Jihn Ichon | |
| 1342 | Henry Goldbeter | Walter Keldsterne | |
| 1344 | Thomas de Redness | John de Heton | |
| 1346 | John de Sherburne | Richard de Setterington | |
| 1347 | William Graa | Walter Keldsterne | |
| 1348 | William Graa | William Skipwith | |
| 1350 | Roger Noringvill | Walter Kelletern | |
| 1352 | Hugo de Miton | John de Creyke | |
| 1352 | Hamo de Hessay | ||
| 1353 | William Graa | Hamo de Hessay | |
| 1355 | Roger de Normanville | William Graa | |
| 1359 | Thomas Auguber | John de Sexdecim Vallibus (Sezevaux) Roger de Henningham | |
| 1360 | John de Gisburn | ||
| 1360 | William Graa | ||
| 1362 | John de Allerton | Roger de Selby | |
| 1364 | William Graa | Robert Hawton | |
| 1365 | William Graa | John de Acastre | |
| 1369 | William Graa | John de Acastre | |
| 1371 | William Graa | ||
| 1372 | William Graa | Robert Hawton | |
| 1373 | John de Gisburn | John de Acastre | |
| 1376 | Thomas Graa | John Eshton | |
| 1378 | John de Acastre | Thomas Graa | |
| 1379 | Thomas Graa | Roger de Moreton | |
| 1382 | William Savage | William Selby | |
| 1383 | Thomas Graa | William Selby | |
| 1384 | Thomas Quixley | John Howden | |
| 1385 | Thomas Graa | Thomas Howden | |
| 1386 | Thomas Graa | Robert Savage[29] | |
| 1388 (February) | Thomas Holme | John Howden | |
| 1388 (September) | John Ripon | John Howden | |
| 1390 (January) | |||
| 1390 (November) | |||
| 1391 | William Selby | John Howden | |
| 1393 | Thomas Graa | William Helmsley | |
| 1394 | Thomas Graa | John __? | |
| 1395 | Thomas Graa | William Selby | |
| 1397 (January) | Thomas Graa | William Selby | |
| 1397 (September) | |||
| 1399 | William Frost | John Bolton | |
| 1401 | |||
| 1402 | Robert Talkan | Robert Ward | |
| 1404 (January) | |||
| 1404 (October) | |||
| 1406 | |||
| 1407 | Robert Talkan | John Bolton | |
| 1410 | |||
| 1411 | |||
| 1413 (February) | |||
| 1413 (May) | William Alne | ||
| 1414 (April) | |||
| 1414 (November) | Robert Holme | John Northby | |
| 1415 | John Morton | Richard Russell | |
| 1416 (March) | William Alne | ||
| 1416 (October) | |||
| 1417 | Thomas Santon | John Blackburn | |
| 1419 | Thomas Gare | John Northby | |
| 1420 | John Penrith | Henry Preston | |
| 1421 (May) | William Bowes | John Morton | |
| 1421 (December) | Thomas Gare | William Ormshead | |
| 1422 | William Bowes[30] | Richard Russell[31] | |
| 1425 | Richard Russell[32] | ||
| 1426 | William Ormshead[33] | ||
| 1431 | William Ormshead[34] | William Bowes | |
| 1492 | Thomas Scotton | ||
| 1504 | William Nelson[35] | ||
| 1510 | William Nelson | Brian Palmes[36] | |
| 1512 | William Nelson | Thomas Drawswerd | |
| 1515 | William Nelson | William Wright | |
| 1523 | Thomas Burton | John Norman | |
| 1529 | Peter Jackson, died and replaced in January 1533 by George Gale | George Lawson | |
| 1536 | George Gale | Sir George Lawson | |
| 1539 | John Hogeson | William Tancred | |
| 1542 | John Hogeson | George Gale | |
| 1545 | John North | Robert Hall | |
| 1547 | Thomas Gargrave | William Holme | |
| 1553 (March) | William Watson | William Holme | |
| 1553 (October) | John North | Robert Hall | |
| 1554 (April) | John Beane | Richard White | |
| 1554 (November) | William Holme | William Coupland | |
| 1555 | William Holme | Reginald Beseley | |
| 1558 | William Holme | Robert Paycock | |
| 1558–1559 | William Watson | Richard Goldthorpe[37] | |
| 1562 (December) | William Watson | Ralph Hall | |
| 1571 (March) | Ralph Hall | Hugh Graves | |
| 1572 (April) | Gregory Paycock, sick and replaced in February 1581 by Robert Askwith | Hugh Graves | |
| 1584 | William Robinson | Robert Brooke | |
| 1586 (October) | William Hillard | Robert Brooke | |
| 1588 (November) | Robert Askwith | William Robinson | |
| 1593 | Andrew Trewe | James Birkby | |
| 1597 (September) | James Birkby | Thomas Moseley | |
| 1601 (October) | Sir John Bennet | Henry Hall | |
| 1604 | Robert Askwith | Christopher Brooke | |
| 1614 | Sir Robert Askwith | Christopher Brooke | |
| 1621 | Sir Robert Askwith | Christopher Brooke | |
| 1624 | Sir Arthur Ingram | Christopher Brooke | |
| 1625 | Sir Arthur Ingram | Christopher Brooke | |
| 1626 | Sir Arthur Ingram | Christopher Brooke | |
| 1628 | Sir Arthur Ingram | Sir Thomas Savile replaced after petition by Thomas Hoyle | |
| 1629–1640 | No Parliaments Summoned |
Second Protectorate Parliament
Long Parliament (restored)
| Election | First member | First party | Second member | Second party | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1660 | Sir Thomas Widdrington | ||||||
| 1661 | |||||||
| 1665 | |||||||
| 1673 | Sir Henry Thompson[38] | ||||||
| 1679 | Whig | Whig | |||||
| 1685 | Sir John Reresby | Tory | |||||
| 1689 | Viscount Dunblane | Tory | |||||
| 1690 | Robert Waller | ||||||
| 1695 | Edward Thompson | ||||||
| 1698 | |||||||
| January 1701 | |||||||
| December 1701 | |||||||
| 1705 | |||||||
| 1713 | |||||||
| 1715 | |||||||
| 1722 | Sir William Milner, 1st Baronet | ||||||
| 1734 | |||||||
| 1741 | |||||||
| 1742 | George Fox[39] | Tory | |||||
| 1747 | |||||||
| 1754 | |||||||
| 1758 | |||||||
| 1761 | Sir George Armytage | ||||||
| 1768 | Charles Turner[40] | Whig | |||||
| 1783 | Tory[41] | ||||||
| 1784 | Tory | ||||||
| 1790 | Whig | ||||||
| 1802 | Whig | ||||||
| 1807 | Tory | ||||||
| 1811 | Whig | ||||||
| March 1820 | Whig | ||||||
| June 1820 | Whig | ||||||
| 1826 | Tory | ||||||
| 1830 | Hon. Thomas Dundas | Whig | Tory | ||||
| 1832 | Whig | ||||||
| 1833 | Whig | ||||||
| 1835 | Hon. John Dundas | Whig[42] [43] [44] | Conservative | ||||
| 1841 | Whig[45] [46] | ||||||
| 1847 | Conservative | ||||||
| 1848 | Whig[47] [48] [49] | ||||||
| 1857 | Whig | ||||||
| 1859 | Liberal | ||||||
| 1865 | George Leeman | Liberal | Conservative | ||||
| 1868 | Liberal | ||||||
| 1871 | Liberal | ||||||
| 1880 | Joseph Johnson Leeman | Liberal | Liberal | ||||
| 1883 | Conservative | ||||||
| 1885 | Alfred Pease | Liberal | Liberal | ||||
| 1892 | Conservative | ||||||
| 1898 | Conservative | ||||||
| 1900 | Conservative | ||||||
| 1906 | Liberal | ||||||
| January 1910 | Arnold Rowntree | Liberal | Conservative | ||||
| 1918 | Representation reduced to one member | ||||||
| Election | Member | Party | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Conservative | ||||
| Conservative | ||||
| Labour | ||||
| Conservative | ||||
| Conservative | ||||
| Labour | ||||
| Conservative | ||||
| Conservative | ||||
| Labour | ||||
| Conservative | ||||
| Labour | ||||
| 2010 | constituency abolished: see York Central and York Outer | |||
Bayntun's death caused a by-election.
Yorke's death caused a by-election.
Westhead resigned, causing a by-election.
Lowther was appointed Chief Secretary to the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland, requiring a by-election.
Leeman's death caused a by-election.
Lockwood was appointed Solicitor General for England and Wales, requiring a by-election.
Lockwood's death caused a by-election.
This result was subject to a recount, with the original result putting Beresford on 5,659 votes, and Furness with 5,648 votes. The recount then led to the above result. 17 ballot papers were reserved for judgement, of which 12 were in favour of Beresford. Beresford was told he was able to substantiate 11 ballot papers, while Furness was given an estimate of four, leading to Beresford being declared MP.
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;