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 Torbayunitary authority in Devon, including the seaside resorts of Torquay and most of Paignton. The remainder of the borough is covered by the Totnes constituency.
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.
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 a Conservative re-took it.
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.
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]
^"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.
^Unemployment claimants by constituency The Guardian
^Leigh Rayment's Historical List of MPs – Constituencies beginning with "T" (part 2)
^"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.