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Torbay (UK Parliament constituency)

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Parliamentary constituency in the United Kingdom, 1974 onwards

Torbay
Borough constituency
for the House of Commons
Outline mapBoundary of Torbay in Devon
Outline mapLocation of Devon within England
CountyDevon
Electorate75,742 (2023)
Major settlementsPaignton and Torquay
Current constituency
Created1974 (1974)
Member of ParliamentSteve Darling (Liberal Democrats)
SeatsOne
Created fromTorquay

Torbay is a constituency in Devon represented in the House of Commons of the UK Parliament since 2024 by Steve Darling, a Liberal Democrat. He defeated Kevin Foster of the Conservative Party, who had held the seat since 2015.

Boundaries

1974–1983: The County Borough of Torbay.

1983–2010: The Borough of Torbay wards of Cockington with Chelston, Coverdale, Ellacombe, Preston, St Marychurch, St Michael's with Goodrington, Shiphay, Tormohun, and Torwood.

2010–2024: The Borough of Torbay wards of Clifton with Maidenway, Cockington with Chelston, Ellacombe, Goodrington with Roselands, Preston, Roundham with Hyde, St Marychurch, Shiphay with the Willows, Tormohun, Watcombe, and Wellswood.

2024–present: The Borough of Torbay wards of: Barton with Watcombe; Clifton with Maidenway; Cockington with Chelston; Ellacombe; Goodrington with Roselands; Preston; Roundham with Hyde; St. Marychurch; Shiphay; Tormohun; Wellswood.

Minor changes following re-organisation of local authority wards.

The constituency covers the majority of the Torbay unitary authority in Devon, including the seaside resorts of Torquay and most of Paignton. The remainder of the borough is covered by the South Devon constituency.

History

Map of current boundaries
Political history

After being held for several Parliaments (taking together various predecessor areas) by Conservatives, from 1997 the seat was held by Liberal Democrats until 2015 when the Conservatives re-took it. It was captured once again by the Liberal Democrats at the 2024 general election.

Prominent frontbenchers

Sir Frederic Bennett did not achieve his own ministry nationally, but he chaired in the European Parliament the European Democrats group.

Constituency profile

Consisting almost entirely of coastal towns and villages, the constituency has a range of tourist facilities, and a few nearby luxury resorts. In November 2012, unemployment was 5%, compared to the national average of 3.8%.

The seat is home to the Plainmoor football ground, home to Torquay United.

Members of Parliament

Election Member Party
Feb 1974 Sir Frederic Bennett Conservative
1987 Rupert Allason Conservative
1993 Independent
1994 Conservative
1997 Adrian Sanders Liberal Democrat
2015 Kevin Foster Conservative
2024 Steve Darling Liberal Democrat
  1. Whip withdrawn

Elections

Elections in the 2020s

General election 2024: Torbay
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Liberal Democrats Steve Darling 18,937 41.1 +16.9
Conservative Kevin Foster 13,588 29.5 –29.6
Reform UK Gordon Scott 8,660 18.8 N/A
Labour Chris Wongsosaputro 3,276 7.1 –5.9
Green Charlie West 1,420 3.1 +0.7
Workers Party Paul Moor 234 0.5 N/A
Majority 5,349 11.6 N/A
Turnout 46,115 60.5 −6.8
Registered electors 76,179
Liberal Democrats gain from Conservative Swing +23.3

Elections in the 2010s

2019 notional result
Party Vote %
Conservative 30,109 59.1
Liberal Democrats 12,358 24.2
Labour 6,620 13.0
Green 1,236 2.4
Independent 648 1.3
Turnout 50,971 67.3
Electorate 75,742
General election 2019: Torbay
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative Kevin Foster 29,863 59.2 +6.2
Liberal Democrats Lee Howgate 12,114 24.0 ―1.1
Labour Michele Middleditch 6,562 13.0 ―5.2
Green Sam Moss 1,239 2.5 +1.2
Independent James Channer 648 1.3 N/A
Majority 17,749 35.2 +7.3
Turnout 50,426 67.2 ―0.2
Conservative hold Swing +3.65
General election 2017: Torbay
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative Kevin Foster 27,141 53.0 +12.3
Liberal Democrats Deborah Brewer 12,858 25.1 ―8.7
Labour Paul Raybould 9,310 18.2 +9.5
UKIP Tony McIntyre 1,213 2.4 ―11.2
Green Sam Moss 652 1.3 ―1.9
Majority 14,283 27.9 +21.0
Turnout 51,174 67.4 +4.4
Conservative hold Swing +10.6
See also: Opinion polling in United Kingdom constituencies, 2010–15 § Torbay
General election 2015: Torbay
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative Kevin Foster 19,551 40.7 +2.0
Liberal Democrats Adrian Sanders 16,265 33.8 ―13.2
UKIP Anthony McIntyre 6,540 13.6 +8.3
Labour Su Maddock 4,166 8.7 +2.1
Green Paula Hermes 1,557 3.2 +2.2
Majority 3,286 6.9 N/A
Turnout 48,079 63.0 ―1.6
Conservative gain from Liberal Democrats Swing +7.6
General election 2010: Torbay
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Liberal Democrats Adrian Sanders 23,126 47.0 +5.2
Conservative Marcus Wood 19,048 38.7 +2.9
Labour David Pedrick-Friend 3,231 6.6 ―7.9
UKIP Julien Parrott 2,628 5.3 ―2.7
BNP Ann Conway 709 1.4 N/A
Green Sam Moss 468 1.0 N/A
Majority 4,078 8.3 +4.0
Turnout 49,210 64.6 +4.4
Liberal Democrats hold Swing +1.1

Elections in the 2000s

General election 2005: Torbay
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Liberal Democrats Adrian Sanders 19,317 40.8 ―9.7
Conservative Marcus Wood 17,288 36.5 +0.1
Labour David Pedrick-Friend 6,972 14.7 +5.3
UKIP Graham Booth 3,726 7.9 +4.7
Majority 2,029 4.3 ―9.8
Turnout 47,303 61.9 ―0.6
Liberal Democrats hold Swing ―4.9
General election 2001: Torbay
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Liberal Democrats Adrian Sanders 24,015 50.5 +10.9
Conservative Christian Sweeting 17,307 36.4 ―3.1
Labour John MacKay 4,484 9.4 ―5.5
UKIP Graham Booth 1,512 3.2 ―0.5
Independent Pam Neale 251 0.5 N/A
Majority 6,708 14.1 +14.0
Turnout 47,569 62.5 ―11.3
Liberal Democrats hold Swing +7.05

Elections in the 1990s

General election 1997: Torbay
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Liberal Democrats Adrian Sanders 21,094 39.6 ―0.2
Conservative Rupert Allason 21,082 39.5 ―10.4
Labour Michael Morey 7,923 14.9 +5.3
UKIP Graham Booth 1,962 3.7 N/A
Liberal Bruce Cowling 1,161 2.2 N/A
Rainbow Dream Ticket Paul Wild 100 0.2 N/A
Majority 12 0.1 N/A
Turnout 53,322 73.8 ―6.8
Liberal Democrats gain from Conservative Swing +5.1

The 12 vote majority in Torbay was originally the second smallest in any of the 659 constituencies contested at the 1997 general election, with only the Liberal Democrats' majority of 2 in Winchester being smaller. However the Winchester result was subsequently challenged and declared void resulting in a by-election.

General election 1992: Torbay
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative Rupert Allason 28,624 49.9 ―4.1
Liberal Democrats Adrian Sanders 22,837 39.8 +2.2
Labour Peter Truscott 5,503 9.6 +1.2
National Front Robert Jones 268 0.5 N/A
Natural Law Alison Thomas 157 0.3 N/A
Majority 5,787 10.1 ―6.3
Turnout 57,389 80.6 +4.2
Conservative hold Swing ―3.2

Elections in the 1980s

General election 1987: Torbay
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative Rupert Allason 29,029 54.0 +1.4
Liberal Nicholas Bye 20,209 37.6 ―1.6
Labour Gerald Taylor 4,538 8.4 +1.2
Majority 8,820 16.4 +3.0
Turnout 53,776 76.4 +3.8
Conservative hold Swing +1.4
General election 1983: Torbay
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative Frederic Bennett 25,721 52.6 ―1.5
Liberal Michael Mitchell 19,166 39.2 +16.1
Labour Philip Rackley 3,521 7.2 ―12.4
Independent Anne Murray 500 1.0 N/A
Majority 6,555 13.4 ―18.2
Turnout 48,908 72.6 ―2.5
Conservative hold Swing +8.8

Elections in the 1970s

General election 1979: Torbay
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative Frederic Bennett 36,099 54.1 +5.7
Liberal Michael Mitchell 15,231 23.1 ―5.4
Labour Elaine Fear 12,919 19.6 ―3.5
Ecology David Abrahams 1,161 1.8 N/A
National Front June Spry 647 1.0 N/A
Majority 20,868 31.0 +11.1
Turnout 66,057 75.1 +2.2
Conservative hold Swing +5.5
General election October 1974: Torbay
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative Frederic Bennett 30,208 48.4 ―0.2
Liberal John Goss 17,770 28.5 ―1.9
Labour Jack Tench 14,441 23.1 +2.0
Majority 12,438 19.9 +1.7
Turnout 62,419 72.9 ―7.4
Conservative hold Swing ―1.1
General election February 1974: Torbay
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative Frederic Bennett 33,163 48.6
Liberal Bridget Trethewey 20,755 30.4
Labour Jack Tench 14,389 21.1
Majority 12,408 18.2
Turnout 68,307 80.3
Conservative win (new seat)

See also

Notes

References

  1. "The 2023 Review of Parliamentary Constituency Boundaries in England – Volume two: Constituency names, designations and composition – South West". Boundary Commission for England. Retrieved 29 June 2024.
  2. "The Parliamentary Constituencies Order 2023". Schedule 1 Part 7 South West region.
  3. Unemployment claimants by constituency The Guardian
  4. Leigh Rayment's Historical List of MPs – Constituencies beginning with "T" (part 2)
  5. "Rupert Allason: No stranger to the courtroom". 17 October 2001. Retrieved 13 July 2022.
  6. "Statement of persons nominated and notice of poll" (PDF). Torbay Council. 7 June 2024. Archived from the original (PDF) on 7 June 2024. Retrieved 7 June 2024.
  7. "Liberal Democrat Prospective Parliamentary Candidates". Mark Pack. Retrieved 23 February 2024.
  8. Kevin Foster (14 June 2023). "Just to help, I was reselected as the candidate for Torbay some time ago" (Tweet) – via Twitter.
  9. "Torbay Constituency". Reform UK. Retrieved 23 February 2024.
  10. Chris Wongsosaputro (25 May 2024). "Honoured and humbled to be the @UKLabour candidate for Torbay!…" (Tweet) – via Twitter.
  11. "Stand at the next general election". South West Green Party. Retrieved 23 February 2024.
  12. "General Election candidates". Workers Party of Britain. 30 April 2024. Retrieved 27 May 2024.
  13. "Notional results for a UK general election on 12 December 2019". Rallings & Thrasher, Professor David Denver (Scotland), Nicholas Whyte (NI) for Sky News, PA, BBC News and ITV News. UK Parliament. Retrieved 11 July 2024.
  14. "Parliamentary elections". Torbay Council. Retrieved 16 November 2019.
  15. "2017 general election candidates in Devon". Devon Live. 11 May 2017. Archived from the original on 11 May 2017.
  16. "Election Data 2015". Electoral Calculus. Archived from the original on 17 October 2015. Retrieved 17 October 2015.
  17. "Torbay – 2015 Election Results – General Elections Online". geo.digiminster.com. Retrieved 22 June 2018.
  18. "Election Data 2010". Electoral Calculus. Archived from the original on 26 July 2013. Retrieved 17 October 2015.
  19. "Statement of Persons Nominated and Notice of Poll: Torbay". Torbay Borough Council. 21 April 2010. Retrieved 25 April 2010.
  20. "BBC NEWS – Election 2010 – Torbay". BBC News.
  21. "Election Data 2005". Electoral Calculus. Archived from the original on 15 October 2011. Retrieved 18 October 2015.
  22. "Election Data 2001". Electoral Calculus. Archived from the original on 15 October 2011. Retrieved 18 October 2015.
  23. "Election Data 1997". Electoral Calculus. Archived from the original on 15 October 2011. Retrieved 18 October 2015.
  24. The Times Guide to the House of Commons 1997. London: Times Books. 1997. p. 299. ISBN 0-7230-0956-2.
  25. "Election Data 1992". Electoral Calculus. Archived from the original on 15 October 2011. Retrieved 18 October 2015.
  26. "Politics Resources". Election 1992. Politics Resources. 9 April 1992. Retrieved 6 December 2010.
  27. "Election Data 1987". Electoral Calculus. Archived from the original on 15 October 2011. Retrieved 18 October 2015.
  28. "Politics Resources". Election 1987. Politics Resources. Retrieved 16 November 2011.
  29. "Election Data 1983". Electoral Calculus. Archived from the original on 15 October 2011. Retrieved 18 October 2015.
  30. "Politics Resources". Election 1983. Politics Resources. Retrieved 16 November 2011.

External links

Constituencies in South West England (58)
Labour (24)
Liberal Democrats (22)
Conservative (11)
Green (1)

50°27′36″N 3°32′17″W / 50.460°N 3.538°W / 50.460; -3.538

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