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. 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.

Constituency profile

Selby is a constituency in England, mostly in North Yorkshire and partly in West Yorkshire. Its largest settlement is the town of Selby, which has a population of around 20,000. Other settlements include the towns of Sherburn in Elmet and Kippax and the villages of Brayton, Barlby, Thorpe Willoughby, Allerton Bywater and Methley.

This is a large, rural constituency with many small villages and farms. This was traditionally a coal mining area, especially in the west around Kippax. Selby is a historic market town that was previously an important inland port with a significant shipbuilding industry. This constituency is predominantly wealthy; there is some deprivation in Selby town centre but Kippax, Sherburn in Elmet and Selby's suburbs are all affluent. Many residents commute to the nearby cities of Leeds and York. House prices across the constituency are generally lower than the UK average but higher than the rest of Yorkshire.

The Selby constituency has a low proportion of young adults and an above-average retired population. Residents have high levels of income and homeownership and the child poverty rate is low. They have average levels of education and a high proportion work in the manufacturing and construction sectors. The percentage claiming unemployment benefits is around half the UK-wide rate. White people made up 98% of the population at the 2021 census.

At the local council level, this constituency's towns are represented by the Labour Party whilst the rural areas elected Conservatives. An estimated 59% of voters in the Selby constituency supported leaving the European Union in the 2016 referendum, higher than the UK-wide figure of 52%.

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%, slightly larger than the swing achieved in the by-election the previous year for its predecessor seat, Selby and Ainsty.

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 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.

Since 2024 Under the 2023 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.

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. 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. Members of Parliament MPs 1983–2010 ElectionMemberParty 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

ElectionMemberParty 2024 Keir Mather Labour

Elections Elections in the 2020s

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

Elections in the 2010s

2019 notional result 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 3.0Turnout52,75770.6Electorate74,761

Election results 1983–2010 Elections in the 1980s

Elections in the 1990s

Elections in the 2000s

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

Notes and references

External links Selby UK Parliament constituency (boundaries April 1997 – April 2010) at MapIt UK Selby UK Parliament constituency (boundaries from June 2024) at MapIt UK