Lincoln (UK Parliament constituency)

Lincoln
Borough constituency for the House of Commons
Boundary of Lincoln in Lincolnshire.
Location of Lincolnshire within England.
County	Lincolnshire
Electorate	72,662 (December 2010)
Major settlements	Lincoln
Current constituency
Created	1265
Member of parliament	Karl McCartney (Conservative)
Number of members	Two until 1885, then one
Overlaps
European Parliament constituency	East Midlands

Lincoln is a constituency represented in the House of Commons of the UK Parliament since 2010 by Karl McCartney, a Conservative.

With the splitting of the City of York constituency at the 2010 general election, Lincoln became the oldest constituency in continuous existence in the United Kingdom, having been established in 1265.

1918-1950: The County Borough of Lincoln, and the Urban District of Bracebridge.

1950-1983: The County Borough of Lincoln.

1983-1997: The City of Lincoln, and the District of North Kesteven wards of Bracebridge Heath, North Hykeham Central, North Hykeham North, North Hykeham South, Skellingthorpe, and Waddington West.

1997-2010: The City of Lincoln, and the District of North Kesteven ward of Bracebridge Heath.

2010-present: The City of Lincoln, and the District of North Kesteven wards of Bracebridge Heath and Waddington East, and Skellingthorpe.

The constituency, as its name suggests, covers the cathedral city of Lincoln in Lincolnshire, and most of its directly adjoining villages.

Lincoln first sent Members to Parliament in 1265, thirty years before the first all-over coverage of cities and qualifying towns was introduced in the Model Parliament, and has done so ever since, although no records exist from before the end of the 13th century. The early elections were held at the Guildhall and the burgesses elected were usually officials of the borough.

The representation, originally two Members ("burgesses"), was reduced to one Member in 1885.

The seat was represented for five years by the future Cabinet minister Margaret Jackson, later Margaret Beckett. Lincoln became the oldest constituency in the country in 2010 when the City of York constituency was divided.