Swinton Park Estate owner Felicity Cunliffe-Lister defeats Conservative rival to win North Yorkshire County Council by-election

The owner of the Swinton Park Estate near Masham has won a seat on North Yorkshire County Council in a by-election.
Grace Newton
By Grace Newton
Published 10th Feb 2023, 15:26 GMT
Updated 10th Feb 2023, 15:27 GMT

Felicity Cunliffe-Lister is now the Liberal Democrat county councillor for Fountains and Masham, having polled 1,349 votes. Her only rival, Conservative candidate Brooke Hall, received 801. The seat was previously Tory.

Lady Masham, a lawyer, is married to Mark Cunliffe-Lister, the Earl of Swinton, whos family have owned Swinton Park since the 1880s. It was purchased by his ancestor Samuel Cunliffe- Lister, a Bradford mill baron.

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Ironically, the Cunliffe-Listers have always been staunch Conservative supporters, and even hosted Edward Heath’s shadow cabinet ministers for away days in the 1960s.

Felicity Cunliffe-Lister is Countess of Swinton and now a county councillorFelicity Cunliffe-Lister is Countess of Swinton and now a county councillor
Felicity Cunliffe-Lister is Countess of Swinton and now a county councillor

Countess Felicity has been instrumental in the development of Swinton Park into a luxury hotel, spa and leisure resort. The family seat is now Dykes Hill House, near Masham.

Her roots are not aristocratic – her parents were teachers and her previous renovation project before moving into Swinton Park was a one-bedroom flat in London.

Related topics:North Yorkshire County CouncilMasham