Yorkshire and The Humber · England · 79,557Boundary · 2023

York Central

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Dispatch
Apr 2026

A Lab seat since 2010, held for 5 consecutive elections. Centred on York. Population 106,577, notably young (median age 33 vs 41 nationally). Recorded crime is 46% above the national average.

One of Labour's more vocal rebels in this parliament, Rachael Maskell was briefly suspended from the party after opposing the government's welfare cuts -- a suspension since lifted. Her rebellion has been consistent: she voted against the Universal Credit and Personal Independence Payment Bill at third reading, backed amendments protecting disabled people with fluctuating conditions, and opposed expanding Public Order Act powers to criminalise infrastructure protest. More recently she voted against the government-backed tuition fee rise. Her rebel votes cluster around welfare, civil liberties, and cost-of-living pressures -- themes that also dominate her local news coverage, which includes lobbying the Prime Minister on business rates threatening York's high street and meeting the Energy Minister to advance a deep geothermal energy project for the city.

At 93% participation and 94.7% party alignment, Maskell votes with Labour the vast majority of the time, but her deviations are sharp and deliberate. Her stance profile shows her voting for disability benefits and welfare protections at rates far above her parliamentary colleagues -- 92 percentage points above the party average on disability benefits. She scores low on pro-business and tough-on-crime measures, and her 420 contributions across 314 debates span economy and jobs, social care, and health most heavily. She holds no current committee positions.

452
Commons votes
This parliament
£27k
Median income
HMRC · 2024
79.6k
Electorate
2024 GE

Votes more often than 97% of MPs.

Current Member of Parliament

Rachael Maskell

Rachael Maskell

Labour and Co-operative Party

Rachael Maskell is the Labour (Co-op) MP for York Central, and has been an MP continually since 7 May 2015.

Notable Votes

Vote on regulations to raise university tuition fees in England by 2.71% for 2026-27. The Labour government backed the increase, while opposition MPs (Conservatives) criticised it as an added burden on young people, despite their own party having nearly tripled fees in 2012.

MP voted NoAgainst party majorityLikely whipped

MPs voted on new regulations expanding the Public Order Act 2023 to criminalise interference with key national infrastructure, such as energy, transport, and water systems. This extends powers introduced to tackle disruptive protest tactics used by groups like Just Stop Oil.

MP voted NoAgainst party majorityLikely whipped

Vote on whether Clauses 2 and 3 of the Universal Credit and Personal Independence Payment Bill should remain part of the Bill. These clauses relate to changes to Universal Credit and PIP eligibility or rates, with the vote determining whether the government's welfare reform proposals proceed through committee stage.

MP voted NoAgainst party majorityLikely whipped

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Voting at a Glance

A Lab seat since 2010, held for 5 consecutive elections. Centred on York. Population 106,577, notably young (median age 33 vs 41 nationally). Recorded crime is 46% above the national average.

2024 General Election

§ 06This week in Westminster.Live · today’s sittingOrder Paper · refreshed daily

Maskell’s scheduled Commons activity this week — whipped divisions, oral questions, debates — drawn from the House of Commons Order Paper.

§ 07The record, at a glance.468 divisions voted

Two readings of the same data. Issue volume shows where Maskell has cast the most ballots — a proxy for engagement, not direction. Notable votes are the moments where the whip was free or where they broke ranks.

Issue volume
Top issues by total divisions voted · cumulative this Parliament
Taxation
91
Economy
86
Employment
51
Crime & Policing
43
Education
40
Welfare and Benefits
27
Notable votes
Free votes and rebellions — moments the MP’s own judgment matters more than the whip
Draft Higher Education (Fee Limits and Fee Limit Condition) (England) (Amendment) Regulations 202618 Mar 2026
No
Draft Public Order Act 2023 (Interference With Use or Operation of Key National Infrastructure) Regulations 202514 Jan 2026
No
Universal Credit and Personal Independence Payment Bill Committee: Clause 2, as amended, and Clause 3 stand part09 Jul 2025
No
§ 08The local picture.9 wards

Constituencies are not uniform. Below — the local council make-up, key facts worth knowing, and the neighbouring seats on either side.

WardCouncillorVotesParty
AcombJason Rose1,364Labour P
AcombKatie Lomas1,506Labour P
CliftonDanny Myers1,371Labour P
CliftonMargaret Wells1,221Labour P
FishergateConrad James Whitcroft1,447Labour P
FishergateSarah Wilson1,704Labour P
GuildhallDave Merrett1,501Labour P
GuildhallRachel Melly1,707Labour P
GuildhallTony Clarke1,593Labour P
HeworthBen Burton1,890Labour P
HeworthBob Webb1,867Labour P
HeworthClaire Elizabeth Douglas2,149Labour P
Population (2021 Census)
106,577
Electorate 79,557 · 2024 register
Median income
£26,700
HMRC SPI 2024
Households renting privately
27.9%
England average 20.0%
Schools
40
24 primary · 4 secondary
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More constituency data is being added, including local issue analysis and historical trends. Learn about our methodology. View data sources & attribution.