The turnouts for both York constituencies are in. And they’re not impressive.
Turnouts
- York Central – 56%
- York Outer – 68%
That’s a big drop from 2019 when York Central turnout was 69%, and York Outer 76%.
Liveblogs
City of York Council by-election result: Labour win Hull Road ward
Labour has kept its majority on City of York Council after candidate John Moroney won Hull Road ward in a four-way race.
More to come on this.
Lib Dems win Harrogate and Knaresborough
Liberal Democrat candidate Tom Gordon has won Harrogate and Knaresborough in the party’s first victory of the night, with 23,976 votes.
That’s a gain from the Conservatives.
Count Binface has arrived in Northallerton
Novelty candidates Count Binface and the Monster Raving Looney Party’s Sir Archibald Stanton arrived at the Richmond and Northallerton count within minutes of each other.
Sir Archibald and his entourage entered with a cheer in their colourful suits and top hats.
Sir Archibald wore a red suit covered in red bats and carried a wooden puppet wearing a name badge which read Gilly Nicholls.
Not longer afterwards Count Binface also entered the leisure centre hall.
‘It gets weirder’
After his video interview with Niko, Tim has now stumbled across Sir Archibald Stanton, The Official Monster Raving Loony Party candidate for Richmond & Northallerton.
“It gets weirder,” said Tim.
Still no sign of Rishi Sunak though.
Here’s the Harrogate turnout
We have the turnout in the Harrogate seat, via Ben Anderson.
Harrogate turnout
- 15,443 Postal
- 36,745 Normal
- Total Ballots 52,188
- 66.95%
They are expecting the result in 15 minutes, following a delay to the postal vote.
Here’s Ben reporting:
Video: ‘I stand for the youth, I stand for the truth’: Indie candidate Niko
Tim Lichfield has been talking to the Independent candidate at the Richmond & Northallerton count, Niko Omilana.
He told us that “I stand for the youth, I stand for the truth”. And he’s asked his friend Batman to fill in all the potholes in Northallerton.
Also Niko said he expected to become Prime Minister by the end of the night. And then “the country is saved”.
Watch the whole extraordinary interview below.
Who’s here at York – and who isn’t
Labour are out in force here at York Racecourse for tonight’s counts. York Central candidate Rachael Maskell is here, as is the new York and North Yorkshire Mayor David Skaith, leader of City of York Council Claire Douglas and deputy leader Pete Kilbane.
For the Conservatives, their York Central candidate Richard Hudson is here, but there’s no sign yet of Julian Sturdy, fighting to keep his York Outer seat.
The Lib Dems’s York Outer candidate Andrew Hollyer is here too.
York Green candidate Lars Kramm: ‘Big Reform vote is worrying’
Lars Kramm has been talking to YorkMix. He’s the Green Party candidate for York Central.
He is hopeful about the Greens taking two seats nationally – but worried about the rise of Reform under leader Nigel Farage – they are predicted to take 13 seats.
“Generally, it will be a good election for the Greens,” Lars said.
“And then the hard work will start because what is worrying is the big Reform vote that we’re seeing up and down the country. That is a mandate for all democratic, decent parties to say we need to reach out to these communities.
“We need to talk to people. We need to put our case out there that the easy solutions they’re offering are not a solution.
“We need to pull together to create a society, a community that works for everyone.”
‘I always expected to come second’ – Reform candidate for Richmond & Northallerton
Lee Taylor, the Reform UK candidate in Richmond and Northallerton, could be seen wandering the floor of the election count wearing the light blue rosette of his party.
Mr Taylor told the PA news agency he always expected to come “second from the beginning”, behind only incumbent Rishi Sunak, describing the contest for the constituency as a “race between myself and Rishi”.
“Labour has never had that many votes in this constituency. When insurgent parties like mine or Ukip come in, they normally beat Labour here,” he said, casting doubt on polling estimates about Labour’s chances.
The Reform candidate added: “The way that Reform UK wins is if Conservative voters swing towards Reform UK.
“It could happen, but as you know it is not just about issues and policies, it is about trust as well, and therefore by employing a speedy election it made it harder for me to gain that trust.”
Mr Taylor also spoke of his novel means of campaigning even in the “far reaches of the constituency”, telling PA a van had been “fashioned and designed” with onboard megaphones and Reform branding to broadcast his electoral message across that part of North Yorkshire.
Here’s how the counts are being run in North Yorkshire
Richard Flinton, chief executive of North Yorkshire Council and acting returning officer has this explainer on how they are counting and declaring seven seats tonight.
More pictures from Northallerton as the count gets underway
Everything’s hotting up at Northallerton Leisure Centre as the votes are counted for the Richmond & Northallerton constituency. It’s Rishi Sunak’s seat.
Here’s how things stood when it was the Richmond (Yorks) constituency, after the election of 2019.
2019 result
First result is in – and it goes to Labour
Labour shadow education secretary Bridget Phillipson has won the Houghton and Sunderland South constituency, in the first result of the night.
She said in her victory speech: “Tonight the British people have spoken, and if the exit poll this evening is again a guide to results across our country as it so often is, then after 14 years the British people have chosen change.
“They have chosen Labour and they have chosen the leadership of Keir Starmer. Today our country with its proud history has chosen a brighter future. The British people have decided that they believe as Labour believes that our best days lie ahead of us – hope and unity, not decline and division, stability over chaos.
“A government powered by hope, by the belief that tomorrow cannot just be different from today, but better. A government of service, a government with purpose above all to change our society for good.”
Ms Phillipson took 18,847 votes, ahead of Reform UK on 11,668, with the Conservatives on 5,514, the Liberal Democrats on 2,290 and The Green Party on 1,723. The turnout was 51.2%.
Counting underway at Harrogate where four seats will be declared
Counting is now underway at the Harrogate Convention Centre, reports Ben Anderson.
It is the venue for the results from four seats:
- Harrogate & Knaresborough
- Wetherby & Easingwold
- Selby
- Skipton & Ripon
‘Rishi will hold onto his seat’ says Green rival
Kevin Foster, the Green candidate for the Richmond and Northallerton constituency, said he believed Rishi Sunak would hold onto the seat.
Mr Foster, a North Yorkshire councillor and the first candidate to arrive at the count in Northallerton Leisure Centre, said: “I think Rishi will hold on by between 7,000 and 5,000 votes.
“I think there are still some people sympathetic to him and the alternative is just not there for them. I think they are reluctant but they have come out reluctantly to vote for him. That is my feeling knocking on the doors, but it is really hard this one.”
Mr Foster, wearing a dark green suit and a Greens rosette, also spoke of the disruptive influence of Reform UK on the election, telling PA: “Basically, Reform has got the bottle, shook it up, and we are all over the place, and I have heard that from other parties as well.”
Mr Foster is North Yorkshire Council’s armed forces champion. He served as an army reservist between 1985 and 2015, and spent six months on tour in Iraq in 2003 as an army chef.
He shares his name with the Conservative candidate for Torbay in Devon.
First report from PM’s constituency of Richmond
Here’s Tim Lichfield reporting live from Richmond & Northallerton, the constituency of the current PM Rishi Sunak
Video: The first ballot boxes arrive in York
Here’s the first votes arriving in the sealed ballot boxes… It’s quite a rush!
First ballot boxes arrive at York
Here are some of the first ballot boxes arriving at the count at York Racecourse tonight. They arrived at 10.13pm.
A silver Mercedes was the first to arrive, with boxes from the YO1 postcode. They were quickly taken in to the counting tables which are on the ground floor.
The exit poll – Labour landslide predicted
The exit poll’s out – and it is predicting a Labour landslide.
The projection shows Labour with 410 seats.
The Conservatives are set for 131 seats.
The exit poll also forecasts the Liberal Democrats on 61 seats, Reform UK on 13 and The Green Party on two.
In Scotland, the SNP are expected to secure 10 seats with Plaid Cymru in Wales on four.
It would be the lowest number Tory MPs on record.
How Selby & Ainsty voted in the 2023 byelection
It’s the second time in just over a year that the voters of Selby & Ainsty have been to the polls.
A byelection took place on 20 July 2023, following the announcement on 10 June that the Conservative Party MP, Nigel Adams, was standing down from Parliament with immediate effect.
The swing to Labour was a big shock for Rishi Sunak and the Tory government. When Keir Mather took the seat he was just 25, the youngest MP in the Commons, and therefore ‘Baby of the House’.
How York Outer voted in 2019
York Outer was a comfortable hold for Conservative Julian Sturdy in a four-horse race.
Mr Sturdy has held the seat since 2010. But it is a Labour target this time round – number 106 to be precise.
How York Central voted in 2019
It’s probably a good idea to see our starting points! So here’s how all the constituencies voted last time around.
The last general election, in December 2019, saw the Conservative’s Boris Johnson pitted against Labour’s Jeremy Corbyn, and turned out to be a decisive win for the Tories under their ‘Get Brexit Done’ slogan.
Nevertheless, it was a very comfortable victory for Labour’s Rachael Maskell in December 2019.
Welcome to our live election blog
Good evening. And it could be a very historic evening. Over the next few hours, we will learn whether the polls were right, and whether a new government is about to take power.
This is our team reporting live this evening:
- Chris Titley is at York Racecourse, where there are three counts tonight – York Central, York Outer and the City of York Council by-election for Hull Road ward
- Ben Anderson is at Harrogate Convention Centre, where there are counts for Harrogate & Knaresborough, Wetherby & Easingwold, Selby and Skipton & Ripon
- Tim Lichfield is at Northallerton Leisure Centre for the Richmond & Northallerton declaration – featuring candidate Rishi Sunak.
We will have all the results from across North Yorkshire and be keeping you up-to-date with the national picture too.
Do send us your thoughts as the night progresses on email at [email protected], or on WhatsApp – 01904 375030.
Crash on York ring road cleared
A collision that partially blocked the A1237 York outer ring road this morning (Thursday, 27 June) has now been cleared.
We reported earlier how the collision, in the Poppleton area, was blocking the northbound carriageway.
The incident has now been cleared up and the road is running normally again.
Crash on York ring road causing congestion
A crash on the York outer ring road is causing traffic problems this morning (Thursday, 27 June).
The collision is on the northbound lane of the A1237 in the Poppleton area.
It has partially blocked the carriageway and is causing delays on the stretch of road from the A59 to the Great North Way.
Crash location
A170 closed between Sinnington and Keldholme
A19 at Crockey Hill reopened
The road has now reopened following the earlier crash and closure.
Meet the Independent candidate running for York Central
York resident Alasdair Lord is standing as an Independent candidate for York Central.
“I was born and grew up in York, where I attended Tang Hall Nursery, Tang Hall Primary and Tang Hall Junior schools. After I passed my 11+ in 1982 I attended Nunthorpe Grammar School for Boys and then Millthorpe Comprehensive after educational policy changes in North Yorkshire in 1985.
“Then I spent two years at York Sixth Form College followed by one year part time at York College of Arts and Technology (they have both now been replaced by York College).
“Additionally my grandfather, father and daughter have all been educated at York schools. It is fair to say I am York born and bred.”
“As a candidate for York Central UK GE 2024 I present five main policies that I would seek to implement if elected as Member of Parliament to represent the people of York Central.
- Pro-peace / Anti-war
- Economic Justice
- Referendum on the future of the royal family
- Evidence-based approach to UK drug laws
- Sovereignty of the Individual as a given”
Crash on York roundabout cleared
A crash on a York roundabout that was causing traffic problems in this morning’s rush hour (Thursday, 13 June) has been cleared.
It was on the roundabout in Acomb linking York Road, Front Street and Oak Rise.
York Travel posted at 8.07am on X that the collision has obstructed the outbound lane.
By 8.46am, the road was clear again.
Collision location
Crash on outer ring road cleared: Traffic flowing normally
A crash that caused rush hour congestion this morning (Monday, 10 June) has been cleared.
It was on the westbound carriageway on the A64 York outer ring road, between the Fulford Interchange and Tadcaster Road.
The incident created long tailbacks. But the road is now running normally again.
Crash causing tailbacks on York outer ring road
Traffic is struggling on a section of the York outer ring road during the rush hour this morning (Monday, 10 June).
A crash on the A64 between the Fulford Interchange and Tadcaster Road is leading to tailbacks.
It is on the westbound carriageway.
The AA reports that delays are increasing on the road. More as we get it.
‘I’m a fresh start’– Labour’s York Outer candidate makes his pitch
Labour’s candidate for York Outer has said ‘It’s time for a fresh start.’
Luke Charters is hoping to unseat Julian Sturdy, the Conservative incumbent, at next month’s poll.
In his campaign launch message, Mr Charters said: “I grew up in York, having lived across the constituency in Haxby, Strensall and Osbaldwick. I am proud to be raising my family in York Outer.
“I attended Huntington School which gave me the confidence to apply and go to Oxford University, and to have a career at the Bank of England.
“Indeed, education was one of the greatest achievements of the last Labour government, my education and achievements are testament to that. I’m proud that last week Keir Starmer unveiled his plan to bring in 6,500 new teachers into schools.
“The last Labour government transformed education. We did it once, we’ll do it again – with your help.
“Labour is best-placed to beat the Conservatives in York Outer – the seismic York and North Yorkshire Mayoral victory and independent polling all demonstrate this.
“It’s time for a fresh start in York Outer and I will be that fresh start.”
World-renowned experts meet in York to discuss elections
International speakers will reflect on a year of elections at a special event in York.
The free public event ‘2024: A new world order?’ is organised by the York Festival of Ideas.
Held at the Ron Cooke Hub, University of York, on Sunday 9 June it will examine topics including the implications of the recent Trump criminal conviction, and what a Trump victory would mean for Ukraine and the future of NATO.
And as polling continues to predict a change of government in the UK after the General Election on 4 July, what geopolitical challenges might any new UK government face?
The event is presented in collaboration with the Morrell Centre for Legal and Political Philosophy. The centre’s Director Matt Matravers said: “In 2024, more than half the world’s population will go to the polls. We’ll be asking what these elections could mean for the world order and global security.
“As we head towards a General Election in the UK, the sessions will offer a chance to reflect on key issues including the potential impacts of existing and emerging technologies on election results.”
You can find out more about the York Festival Of Ideas here.
Green Party name their candidate for Wetherby & Easingwold
The Green Party has a new candidate in place for the Wetherby & Easingwold constituency.
Arnold Warneken has been selected to replace Anna Jacobs who was the previous candidate, but who has stood down for personal reasons.
He is currently North Yorkshire Councillor for Ouseburn, chair of Tockwith Parish Council, and lives in Cowthorpe, all within the constituency.
Mr Warneken was first elected in 1991 to Harrogate District Council. In May 2022 he was elected to North Yorkshire County Council with 69% of the vote, in the Ouseburn Division.
He has stood in Westminster elections three times before, once in Harrogate, and twice in Selby & Ainsty, where in July 2023 he came third out of 13 candidates, beaten only by Labour and Conservatives.
He runs an organic food distribution business.
“Wetherby & Easingwold is a completely new constituency, bridging two local authorities, and so it will need a competent MP to satisfy the differing needs of the urban and rural communities,” Mr Warneken said.
“For the last two years I have acquired a reputation of getting things done where others give up. I have tackled residents’ problems and achieved many positive results.”
“The issues I have failed to fix are those where government policies are to blame, and that is why I want to be a Green voice at Westminster, to put an end to austerity, and to hold the new government to account, preventing any further U-turns on people- and planet-centred policies.”
“Green policies are made to benefit ordinary people, whilst safeguarding our natural environment which we depend on for our food, clean air, safe housing, jobs, and recreation.”
Crash closes main North Yorkshire road near roundabout
The A61 near Ripon is closed by a crash this lunchtime (Wednesday, 22 May).
North Yorkshire Police say: “We’re currently dealing with a road traffic collision on the A61 near to the Quarry Moor roundabout.
“The A61 is currently closed at this location and motorists should find an alternative route.”
Crash location
Police incident causing problems on the A64 west of York
A police incident is causing slow traffic on the A64 west of York this morning (Monday, 20 May).
Traffic is very slow between Bilbrough Top and Tadcaster on the westbound carriageway.
We have no information as to what the incident is yet.
Crash near main York interchange – A64 closed
A crash is causing problems at a key York interchange this morning (Monday, 20 May).
York Travel reports on X: “Road traffic collision – A64 westbound near Grimston Bar Interchange.
“Slow moving traffic in the area.”
It added at 8.03am: “A64 Westbound currently closed near Grimston Bar whilst vehicle recovery takes place.”
Crash location
Lorry fire causing delays on road near York
A lorry fire is causing delays close to Garrowby Hill, east of York, this morning (Friday, 17 May).
It is on the A166 Garrowby Street.
The AA says: “Reports of heavy traffic due to lorry fire on A166 Garrowby Street both ways from Roman Road to Garrowby Road.
“Between Driffield and York.”
Location of the incident
Road closed at Scotch Corner roundabout: Traffic heavy on the A1
A road has been closed after a crash in North Yorkshire this morning (Wednesday, 15 May).
North Yorkshire Police said at 6.59am: “Traffic alert – Scotch Corner. We’re currently dealing with a serious road traffic collision on the roundabout where the A6055 meets the A66.
“The A6055 is currently closed and traffic is heavy at Scotch Corner (Junction 53 of the A1).”
Road near Selby partially blocked due to obstruction
A road is partially blocked causing queuing traffic near Selby today (Monday, 13 May).
The problem is at South Milford.
The AA reports: “Road blocked and queueing traffic due to obstruction on the road on The A162 Northbound from Mill Lane to the B1222.
“Congestion to routes through and around Sherburn in Elmet and around one and a half miles before South Milford.”
Updated: Crash that was blocking main road near Selby is cleared
A crash that was partially blocking a road near Selby this afternoon (Thursday, 9 May) has been cleared.
The collision was on the A1041 Bawtry Road.
The AA reported heavy traffic both ways from Barlow Common Road to Thief Lane.
Now the crash has been cleared and the traffic is back to normal.
Map location
Updated: Clifton in York reopens after crash
A road has reopened after a crash in York this morning (Wednesday, 8 May).
York Travel posted on X at 9.34am: “A19 Clifton closed near Compton Street (Clifton Green area) due to road traffic collision.
“Please avoid if possible. Inbound traffic currently diverting around Clifton Green.”
North Yorkshire Police posted at 10.05am: “Clifton in York is currently closed near to Clifton Green due to a collision.
“Motorists area advised to avoid the area at this time.”
At 11.46am, York Travel advised that the road had reopened.
There are no details of the vehicles involved or any casualties yet.
Crash location
Road closures in place as abnormal load transported to Thirsk
Police have warned drivers that they are escorting an abnormal load today (Monday, 29 April), causing delays and road closures.
They are accompanying the load from the A1M to an industrial premises near Thirsk.
Police say: “There will be some delays and temporary road closures, particularly around Topcliffe.
“The affected roads are the A168 from the A1(M) at J49, A167, A61 and the roads in Topcliffe village.
“The escort is planned to be between 1.30pm and 2.30pm but the times may be subject to change.
“Motorists are advised to avoid the Topcliffe area during these times if at all possible.”
Crash partially blocks A64 near York
A crash on the A64 near York is causing traffic problems this morning (Friday, 26 April).
It is close to Stockton on the Forest.
The AA reports: “Partially blocked and heavy traffic due to crash on A64 both ways near the car dealership.”
Traffic is slow both ways in the area.
Crash location
Crash on A64 cleared
A crash which was causing problems on the A64 has been cleared.
It was near the Hopgrove roundabout and Highwayman Café earlier this morning (Tuesday, 16 April).
The road is now running freely.
Crash on A64 in York causing rush hour problems
A crash is causing problems on the A64 in York this morning (Tuesday, 16 April).
It is close to the Highwayman Café near the Hopgrove roundabout.
A YorkMix Radio listener reports that traffic is still able to get through but it is causing congestion.
The AA reports: “Heavy traffic due to crash on A1237 both ways from A64 to A1237 (Hopgrove Roundabout).”
Crash location
Selby bypass cleared after collision
The A63 Selby bypass is now running normally after a collision during this morning’s rush hour (Wednesday, 10 April).
We reported earlier that the road was partially blocked after a car crashed near the Greencore roundabout heading towards Selby.
The road is now running normally.
Crash on main North Yorkshire road causing rush hour delays
A crash is causing delays on a main road during the morning rush hour today (Wednesday, 10 April).
It happened at aroun 6.45am on the A63 Selby bypass near the Greencore roundabout.
A black car has crashed on the stretch of road heading towards York.
Emergency services were at the scene. A witness said they didn’t think there were any serious casualties.