Torbay_(UK_Parliament_constituency)
Torbay (UK Parliament constituency)
UK Parliament constituency
Torbay is a constituency in Devon represented in the House of Commons of the UK Parliament since 2015 by Kevin Foster, a Conservative. He defeated Adrian Sanders of the Liberal Democrats, who had held the seat since 1997.
| Torbay | |
|---|---|
| Borough constituency for the House of Commons | |
Boundary of Torbay in Devon | |
Location of Devon within England | |
| County | Devon |
| Electorate | 76,219 (December 2010)[1] |
| Major settlements | Paignton and Torquay |
| Current constituency | |
| Created | 1974 (1974) |
| Member of Parliament | Kevin Foster (Conservative) |
| Seats | One |
| Created from | Torquay |
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–present: 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.
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 Totnes constituency.
Proposed
Further to the 2023 Periodic Review of Westminster constituencies, enacted by the Parliamentary Constituencies Order 2023, from the next general election, due by January 2025, the constituency will be composed of the following (as they existed on 1 December 2020):
- TheBorough 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.
- 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 a Conservative re-took it.
- Prominent frontbenchers
Sir Frederic Bennett did not achieve his own ministry nationally, but he chaired in the European Parliament the European Democrats group.
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.
- Whip withdrawn[5]
Elections in the 2020s
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Liberal Democrats | Steve Darling[6] | ||||
| Conservative | Kevin Foster[7] | ||||
| Reform UK | Gordon Scott[8] | ||||
| Green | Charlie West[9] | ||||
| Majority | |||||
| Turnout | |||||
| Registered electors | |||||
| Swing | |||||
Elections in the 2010s
| 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 | New | |
| Majority | 17,749 | 35.2 | +7.3 | ||
| Turnout | 50,426 | 67.2 | ―0.2 | ||
| Conservative hold | Swing | +3.65 | |||
| 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 | |||
| 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 | |||
| 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 | New | |
| Green | Sam Moss | 468 | 1.0 | New | |
| Majority | 4,078 | 8.3 | +4.0 | ||
| Turnout | 49,210 | 64.6 | +4.4 | ||
| Liberal Democrats hold | Swing | +1.1 | |||
Elections in the 2000s
| 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 | |||
| 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 | New | |
| Majority | 6,708 | 14.1 | +14.0 | ||
| Turnout | 47,569 | 62.5 | ―11.3 | ||
| Liberal Democrats hold | Swing | +7.05 | |||
Elections in the 1990s
| 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 | New | |
| Liberal | Bruce Cowling | 1,161 | 2.2 | New | |
| Rainbow Dream Ticket | Paul Wild | 100 | 0.2 | New | |
| 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.[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 | New | |
| Natural Law | Alison Thomas | 157 | 0.3 | New | |
| Majority | 5,787 | 10.1 | ―6.3 | ||
| Turnout | 57,389 | 80.6 | +4.2 | ||
| Conservative hold | Swing | ―3.2 | |||
Elections in the 1980s
| 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 | |||
| 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 | New | |
| Majority | 6,555 | 13.4 | ―18.2 | ||
| Turnout | 48,908 | 72.6 | ―2.5 | ||
| Conservative hold | Swing | +8.8 | |||
Elections in the 1970s
| 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 | New | |
| National Front | June Spry | 647 | 1.0 | New | |
| Majority | 20,868 | 31.0 | +11.1 | ||
| Turnout | 66,057 | 75.1 | +2.2 | ||
| Conservative hold | Swing | +5.5 | |||
| 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 | |||
| 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) | |||||
- "Electorate Figures – Boundary Commission for England". 2011 Electorate Figures. Boundary Commission for England. 4 March 2011. Archived from the original on 6 November 2010. Retrieved 13 March 2011.
- "The Parliamentary Constituencies Order 2023". Schedule 1 Part 7 South West region.
- "Rupert Allason: No stranger to the courtroom". 17 October 2001. Retrieved 13 July 2022.
- "Liberal Democrat Prospective Parliamentary Candidates". Mark Pack. Retrieved 23 February 2024.
- Kevin Foster [@kevin_j_foster] (14 June 2023). "Just to help, I was reselected as the candidate for Torbay some time ago" (Tweet) – via Twitter.
- "Torbay Constituency". Reform UK. Retrieved 23 February 2024.
- "Stand at the next general election". South West Green Party. Retrieved 23 February 2024.
- Council, Torbay. "Parliamentary elections". www.torbay.gov.uk. Retrieved 16 November 2019.
- "2017 general election candidates in Devon". Devon Live. 11 May 2017. Archived from the original on 11 May 2017.
- "Election Data 2015". Electoral Calculus. Archived from the original on 17 October 2015. Retrieved 17 October 2015.
- "Torbay - 2015 Election Results - General Elections Online". geo.digiminster.com. Retrieved 22 June 2018.
- "Election Data 2010". Electoral Calculus. Archived from the original on 26 July 2013. Retrieved 17 October 2015.
- "Statement of Persons Nominated and Notice of Poll: Torbay". Torbay Borough Council. 21 April 2010. Retrieved 25 April 2010.[permanent dead link]
- "BBC NEWS – Election 2010 – Torbay". BBC News.
- "Election Data 2005". Electoral Calculus. Archived from the original on 15 October 2011. Retrieved 18 October 2015.
- "Election Data 2001". Electoral Calculus. Archived from the original on 15 October 2011. Retrieved 18 October 2015.
- "Election Data 1997". Electoral Calculus. Archived from the original on 15 October 2011. Retrieved 18 October 2015.
- The Times Guide to the House of Commons 1997. London: Times Books. 1997. p. 299. ISBN 0-7230-0956-2.
- "Election Data 1992". Electoral Calculus. Archived from the original on 15 October 2011. Retrieved 18 October 2015.
- "Politics Resources". Election 1992. Politics Resources. 9 April 1992. Retrieved 6 December 2010.
- "Election Data 1987". Electoral Calculus. Archived from the original on 15 October 2011. Retrieved 18 October 2015.
- "Politics Resources". Election 1987. Politics Resources. Retrieved 16 November 2011.
- "Election Data 1983". Electoral Calculus. Archived from the original on 15 October 2011. Retrieved 18 October 2015.
- "Politics Resources". Election 1983. Politics Resources. Retrieved 16 November 2011.