Torbay (UK Parliament constituency)

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.

Torbay
Borough constituency for the House of Commons
Boundary of Torbay in Devon
Location of Devon within England
County	Devon
Electorate	75,742 (2023)[1]
Major settlements	Paignton and Torquay
Current constituency
Created	1974 (1974)
Member of Parliament	Steve Darling (Liberal Democrats)
Seats	One
Created from	Torquay

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.^[2]

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%.^[3]

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

Members of Parliament

Election		Member[4]	Party
	Feb 1974	Sir Frederic Bennett	Conservative
	1987	Rupert Allason	Conservative
	1993		Independent[a]
	1994		Conservative
	1997	Adrian Sanders	Liberal Democrat
	2015	Kevin Foster	Conservative
	2024	Steve Darling	Liberal Democrat

1. Whip withdrawn^[5]

Elections

Elections in the 2020s

General election 2024: Torbay^[6]

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

2019 notional result[7]
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

Elections in the 2010s

General election 2019: Torbay^[8]

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^[9]

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^[10][11]

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^[12][13][14]

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^[15]

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^[16]

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^[17]

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.^[18]

General election 1992: Torbay^[19][20]

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^[21][22]

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^[23][24]

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

• List of parliamentary constituencies in Devon

Notes