Ribble Valley (UK Parliament constituency)

Ribble Valley
County constituency for the House of Commons
Boundary of Ribble Valley in North West England
County	Lancashire
Electorate	75,993 (2023) [1]
Major settlements	Bamber Bridge, Fulwood, Gisburn, Longridge
Current constituency
Created	1983
Member of Parliament	Maya Ellis (Labour)
Seats	One
Created from	Clitheroe, Preston North, Darwen, Skipton and Fylde South [2]

Ribble Valley is a constituency ^{[n 1]} in Lancashire represented in the House of Commons of the UK Parliament since 2024 by Maya Ellis, of the Labour Party. ^{[n 2]}

History

The Ribble Valley constituency was created in 1983 almost wholly from the former seat of Clitheroe. Much of the eastern part of the constituency lies within the historic county boundaries of the West Riding of Yorkshire.

Until 2024, with the exception of one year when, following a by-election, it was represented by a Liberal Democrat, the MP had been a Conservative; the lowest majority was 11.6% in 1997. The seat was held by David Waddington from 1983 to 1990. He was previously MP for Clitheroe from 1979 to 1983 and Nelson and Colne from 1968 to 1974. He was Home Secretary from 1989 to 1990. From 1992 to 2024, the MP was Nigel Evans, who twice held the post of Deputy Speaker of the House of Commons.

In 2024, the seat fell to Labour for the first time. Maya Ellis defeated Evans with a majority of 1.6% as a result of a 16.9% swing.

Constituency profile

The constituency has slightly higher than national average income and much lower than average reliance upon social housing. ^{[3] [4]} As of December 2012, unemployment was significantly lower than the national average. ^[5]

Boundary changes in 2010 brought in more urban areas from the neighbouring South Ribble district, and with it a large number of Labour voters, particularly in Bamber Bridge where all four local councillors are Labour, alongside Farington and Lostock Hall.

Six of the divisions on Lancashire County Council within the Ribble Valley constituency after the 2013 United Kingdom local elections were Conservative-held, with Labour having one. The Conservatives gained one division each from the Liberal Democrats and the Idle Toad parties, while Labour took one from the Conservatives. Labour also gained another Conservative seat, which crosses the boundaries of the Ribble Valley and South Ribble constituencies. ^[6]

The constituency comprises the whole of the Borough of Ribble Valley and a part of the Borough of South Ribble. In March 2015, two councillors, a Liberal Democrat and an Independent, defected to the Conservatives. Since the May 2015 local elections the council has been composed of 35 Conservative, 4 Liberal Democrat and 1 Labour councillors. ^[7] 14 of the 19 South Ribble Borough councillors within the Ribble Valley constituency are Conservative, and 5 are Labour.

Boundaries

Historic

1983–1997: The Borough of Ribble Valley, and the Borough of Preston wards of Cadley, Greyfriars, Preston Rural East, and Sharoe Green.

1997–2010: The Borough of Ribble Valley, the City of Preston wards of Cadley, Greyfriars, Preston Rural East, Sharoe Green, and Sherwood, and the Borough of South Ribble wards of All Saints, and Samlesbury and Cuerdale.

2010–2015: The Borough of Ribble Valley, and the ten Borough of South Ribble wards of Bamber Bridge East, Bamber Bridge North, Bamber Bridge West, Coupe Green and Gregson Lane, Farington East, Farington West, Lostock Hall, Samlesbury and Walton, Tardy Gate, and Walton-le-Dale.

In the run up to the 2010 general election, the Boundary Commission's Fifth Periodic Review of Westminster constituencies led Parliament to approve the creation of a new seat of Wyre and Preston North, to which the City of Preston wards, including Fulwood, were transferred. To compensate, the constituency was extended further into the Borough of South Ribble to include the more urban communities of Bamber Bridge and Walton-le-Dale from Preston, and Farington from South Ribble.

2015–2024: The Borough of Ribble Valley, and the nine Borough of South Ribble wards of Bamber Bridge East, Bamber Bridge West, Coupe Green and Gregson Lane, Farington East, Farington West, Lostock Hall, Samlesbury and Walton, Walton-le-Dale East and Walton-le-Dale West.

The Local Government Boundary Commission for England modified the Borough of South Ribble ward boundaries and names in 2015, which altered the contents, but not the boundaries of the constituency.

Current

Further to the 2023 Periodic Review of Westminster constituencies which came into effect for the 2024 United Kingdom general election, the constituency is composed of the following (as they existed on 1 December 2020):

• The City of Preston wards of: Greyfriars; Preston Rural East; Preston Rural North; Sharoe Green.

• The Borough of Ribble Valley wards of: Alston & Hothersall; Billington & Langho; Bowland; Brockhall & Dinckley; Chipping; Clayton-le-Dale & Salesbury; Derby & Thornley; Dilworth; Gisburn & Rimington; Hurst Green & Whitewell; Mellor; Ribchester; Waddington, Bashall Eaves & Mitton; West Bradford & Grindleton; Whalley Nethertown; Wilpshire & Ramsgreave.

• The Borough of South Ribble wards of: Bamber Bridge East; Bamber Bridge West; Coupe Green & Gregson Lane; Lostock Hall; Samlesbury & Walton; Walton-le-Dale East; Walton-le-Dale West. ^[8]

The seat lost the town of Clitheroe and its environs to the new constituency of Pendle and Clitheroe and regained parts of rural and northern Preston, including the centre of Fulwood, transferred from the abolished constituency of Wyre and Preston North. In the Borough of South Ribble, Farington was returned to the South Ribble seat. ^{[9] [10]}

Members of Parliament

Election	Member [11]	Party		Notes
1983	David Waddington		Conservative	Government Chief Whip 1987–1989; Home Secretary 1989–1990; Resigned 1990, on being raised to the peerage
1991 by-election	Michael Carr		Liberal Democrats	Defeated at the 1992 general election
1992	Nigel Evans		Conservative	First Deputy Chairman of Ways and Means (2010–2013) Executive Secretary of the 1922 Committee (2017–2020) Second Deputy Chairman of Ways and Means (2020–2024)
2013			Independent
2014			Conservative
2024	Maya Ellis		Labour

Elections

Ribble Valley election results

Elections in the 2020s

General election 2024: Ribble Valley ^[12]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
	Labour	Maya Ellis [13]	18,177	34.9	+7.3
	Conservative	Nigel Evans [14]	17,321	33.3	−26.5
	Reform UK	John Carroll	8,524	16.4	N/A
	Liberal Democrats	John Potter [15]	5,001	9.6	+1.6
	Green	Caroline Montague [16]	1,727	3.3	+0.5
	Independent	Qasim Ajmi	1,273	2.4	N/A
Majority			856	1.6	N/A
Turnout			52,023	64.6	−4.1
	Labour gain from		Swing	+16.9

Elections in the 2010s

General election 2019: Ribble Valley ^[17]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
	Conservative	Nigel Evans	33,346	60.3	+2.5
	Labour	Giles Bridge	14,907	27.0	−6.9
	Liberal Democrats	Chantelle Seddon	4,776	8.6	+2.7
	Green	Paul Yates	1,704	3.1	+0.7
	Independent	Tony Johnson	551	1.0	New
Majority			18,439	33.3	+9.4
Turnout			55,284	69.8	−1.0
	Conservative hold		Swing	+4.7

General election 2017: Ribble Valley ^[18]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
	Conservative	Nigel Evans	31,919	57.8	+9.2
	Labour	David Hinder	18,720	33.9	+11.3
	Liberal Democrats	Allan Knox	3,247	5.9	+0.6
	Green	Graham Sowter	1,314	2.4	−1.8
Majority			13,199	23.9	−2.1
Turnout			55,363	70.8	+3.7
	Conservative hold		Swing	−1.0

General election 2015: Ribble Valley ^{[19] [20]}

Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
	Conservative	Nigel Evans	25,404	48.6	−1.7
	Labour	David Hinder	11,798	22.6	+0.6
	UKIP	Shirley Parkinson	8,250	15.8	+9.1
	Liberal Democrats	Jackie Pearcey	2,756	5.3	−15.2
	Green	Graham Sowter	2,193	4.2	New
	Independent	David Brass	1,498	2.9	New
	Independent	Grace Astley	288	0.6	New
	Independent	Tony Johnson	56	0.1	−0.3
Majority			13,606	26.0	−2.3
Turnout			52,243	67.1	+0.1
	Conservative hold		Swing	−1.1

General election 2010: Ribble Valley ^{[21] [22]}

Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
	Conservative	Nigel Evans	26,298	50.3	+5.4
	Labour	Paul Foster	11,529	22.0	+0.1
	Liberal Democrats	Allan Knox	10,732	20.5	−2.1
	UKIP	Stephen Rush	3,496	6.7	+4.0
	Independent	Tony Johnson	232	0.4	New
Majority			14,769	28.3	+13.2
Turnout			52,287	67.0	+5.5
	Conservative hold		Swing	+2.6

Elections in the 2000s

General election 2005: Ribble Valley ^[23]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
	Conservative	Nigel Evans	25,834	51.9	+0.4
	Liberal Democrats	Julie Young	11,663	22.6	−6.0
	Labour	Jack Davenport	10,924	21.9	+2.0
	UKIP	Kevin Henry	1,345	2.7	New
Majority			14,171	29.3	+5.4
Turnout			49,776	65.7	−0.5
	Conservative hold		Swing	+3.2

General election 2001: Ribble Valley ^[24]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
	Conservative	Nigel Evans	25,308	51.5	+4.8
	Liberal Democrats	Michael Carr	14,070	28.6	−6.5
	Labour	Marcus B. Johnstone	9,793	19.9	+4.2
Majority			11,238	22.9	+11.3
Turnout			49,171	66.2	−12.3
	Conservative hold		Swing	+5.7

Elections in the 1990s

General election 1997: Ribble Valley ^[25]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
	Conservative	Nigel Evans	26,702	46.7	−5.9
	Liberal Democrats	Michael Carr	20,062	35.1	−3.2
	Labour	Marcus B. Johnstone	9,013	15.7	+7.0
	Referendum	Julian Parkinson	1,297	2.3	New
	Natural Law	Nicola Holmes	147	0.2	+0.0
Majority			6,640	11.6	−0.1
Turnout			57,221	78.5	−6.5
	Conservative hold		Swing	−1.3

General election 1992: Ribble Valley ^{[26] [27]}

Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
	Conservative	Nigel Evans	29,178	52.4	−8.5
	Liberal Democrats	Michael Carr	22,636	40.6	+19.2
	Labour	Ronald Pickup	3,649	6.5	−11.2
	Raving Loony Green Giant	David Beesley	152	0.3	N/A
	Natural Law	Nicola Holmes	112	0.2	New
Majority			6,542	11.8	−27.7
Turnout			55,727	85.0	+5.9
	Conservative gain from Liberal Democrats		Swing	−13.9

By election 1991: Ribble Valley

Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
	Liberal Democrats	Michael Carr	22,377	48.5	+27.1
	Conservative	Nigel Evans	17,776	38.5	−22.4
	Labour	Josephine Farrington	4,356	9.5	−8.2
	Ind. Conservative	David Brass	611	1.3	New
	Green	Halldora Ingham	466	1.0	New
	Monster Raving Loony	Screaming Lord Sutch	278	0.6	New
	Liberal	Simon Taylor	133	0.3	New
	Independent – Corrective Party	Lindi St Claire	72	0.2	New
	Raving Loony Green Giant Clitheroe Kid	Stuart Hughes	60	0.1	New
Majority			4,601	10.0	N/A
Turnout			46,129	71.1	−8.0
	Liberal Democrats gain from Conservative		Swing	+24.7

Elections in the 1980s

General election 1987: Ribble Valley ^[28]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
	Conservative	David Waddington	30,136	60.9	−2.5
	SDP	Michael Carr	10,608	21.4	−1.7
	Labour	Greg Pope	8,781	17.7	+4.2
Majority			19,528	39.5	−0.8
Turnout			49,525	79.1	+2.3
	Conservative hold		Swing	−0.4

General election 1983: Ribble Valley ^[29]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
	Conservative	David Waddington	29,223	63.4
	SDP	Michael Carr	10,632	23.1
	Labour	Edward Saville	6,214	13.5
Majority			18,591	40.3
Turnout			46,060	76.8
	Conservative win (new seat)

See also

• List of parliamentary constituencies in Lancashire

Notes

1. A county constituency (for the purposes of election expenses and type of returning officer)
2. As with all constituencies, the constituency elects one Member of Parliament (MP) by the first past the post system of election at least every five years.

References

1. "The 2023 Review of Parliamentary Constituency Boundaries in England – Volume two: Constituency names, designations and composition – North West". Boundary Commission for England. Retrieved 18 July 2024.
2. "'Ribble Valley', June 1983 up to May 1997". ElectionWeb Project. Cognitive Computing Limited. Retrieved 13 March 2016.
3. "Local statistics – Office for National Statistics". neighbourhood.statistics.gov.uk. Retrieved 13 April 2018.
4. "2011 census interactive maps". ons.gov.uk. Archived from the original on 29 January 2016. Retrieved 13 April 2018.
5. Unemployment claimants by constituency The Guardian
6. Hydes, Alice. "Lancashire County Council Election 2013". www.ribblevalley.gov.uk. Retrieved 13 April 2018.
7. "Ribble Valley Borough Council – Councillors". Archived from the original on 12 April 2013. Retrieved 5 May 2013.
8. "The Parliamentary Constituencies Order 2023". Schedule 1 Part 5 North West region.
9. Preston households to become Ribble Valley at next election Blog Preston
10. New election boundaries carve up Ribble Valley and Pendle Lancaster Telegraph
11. Leigh Rayment's Historical List of MPs – Constituencies beginning with "R" (part 1)
12. Ribble Valley
13. As General Election 2024 called here's candidates for Preston and surrounding seats Blog Preston
14. "Selection of Nigel Evans MP for the new constituency of Ribble Valley County". Ribble Valley Conservative Association. Retrieved 31 January 2024.
15. "Liberal Democrat Prospective Parliamentary Candidates". Mark Pack . Retrieved 31 January 2024.
16. "Our Candidates" . Retrieved 2 June 2024.
17. "Statement of persons nominated 2019" (PDF).
18. "Ribble Valley parliamentary constituency". BBC News.
19. "Election Data 2015". Electoral Calculus. Archived from the original on 17 October 2015. Retrieved 17 October 2015.
20. "Ribble Valley". BBC News. Retrieved 11 May 2015.
21. "Election Data 2010". Electoral Calculus. Archived from the original on 26 July 2013. Retrieved 17 October 2015.
22. "BBC News – Election 2010 – Constituency – Ribble Valley". news.bbc.co.uk. Retrieved 13 April 2018.
23. "Election Data 2005". Electoral Calculus. Archived from the original on 15 October 2011. Retrieved 18 October 2015.
24. "Election Data 2001". Electoral Calculus. Archived from the original on 15 October 2011. Retrieved 18 October 2015.
25. "Election Data 1997". Electoral Calculus. Archived from the original on 15 October 2011. Retrieved 18 October 2015.
26. "Election Data 1992". Electoral Calculus. Archived from the original on 15 October 2011. Retrieved 18 October 2015.
27. "UK General Election results April 1992". Richard Kimber's Political Science Resources. Politics Resources. 9 April 1992. Retrieved 6 December 2010.
28. "Election Data 1987". Electoral Calculus. Archived from the original on 15 October 2011. Retrieved 18 October 2015.
29. "Election Data 1983". Electoral Calculus. Archived from the original on 15 October 2011. Retrieved 18 October 2015.

External links

• Ribble Valley Borough Council official site
• Ribble Valley UK Parliament constituency (boundaries April 1997 – April 2010) at MapIt UK
• Ribble Valley UK Parliament constituency (boundaries April 2010 – May 2024) at MapIt UK
• Ribble Valley UK Parliament constituency (boundaries from June 2024) at MapIt UK

53°52′23″N2°23′28″W / 53.873°N 2.391°W / 53.873; -2.391