Central Devon (UK Parliament constituency)

Central Devon is a constituency^{[n 1]} represented in the House of Commons of the UK Parliament since 2010 by Mel Stride of the Conservative Party.^{[n 2]}

Central Devon
County constituency for the House of Commons
Interactive map of boundaries from 2024
Boundary of Central Devon in South West England
County	Devon
Population	88,926 (2011 census)[1]
Electorate	73,491 (2023) [2]
Major settlements	Okehampton, Crediton, Bovey Tracey and Chudleigh
Current constituency
Created	2010
Member of Parliament	Mel Stride (Conservative)
Seats	One
Created from	North Devon, Teignbridge, Tiverton and Honiton, Torridge and West Devon, Totnes

History

The constituency was created for the 2010 general election, following a review of parliamentary representation in Devon by the Boundary Commission for England, which increased seats in the county from 11 to 12.^[3] Central Devon covers parts of the East Devon, Mid Devon, Teignbridge and West Devon districts.

The wards from the last election presented a notional Conservative majority of just over 1,700, making it a marginal seat at the first election. Despite this, Mel Stride's majority over the Liberal Democrats was 17.1 percentage points with an absolute majority.^[4] Stride held the seat comfortably at the next three elections (2015, 2017 and 2019), but only just held on at the 2024 general election with a majority of 0.1% (61 votes) over the Labour Party candidate.

Boundaries

2010–2024

The constituency contained electoral wards from four districts.^[3]

• From East Devon: Exe Valley;
• From Mid Devon: Boniface, Bradninch, Cadbury, Lawrence, Newbrooke, Sandford and Creedy, Silverton, Taw, Taw Vale, Upper Yeo, Way, Yeo;
• From Teignbridge: Ashburton and Buckfastleigh, Bovey Tracey, Chudleigh, Haytor, Kenn Valley, Moorland, Teignbridge North, Teign Valley;
• From West Devon: Chagford, Drewsteignton, Exbourne, Hatherleigh, Lew Valley, North Tawton, Okehampton East, Okehampton West, South Tawton.

2024–present

Further to the 2023 Periodic Review of Westminster constituencies which came into effect for the 2024 general election, and a local government boundary review in Mid Devon District which came into effect in May 2023, the constituency is composed of the following:^[5]

• The District of Mid Devon wards of: Bradninch (nearly all); Cadbury; Crediton Boniface; Crediton Lawrence; Sandford & Creedy; Silverton; Taw Vale; Upper Yeo & Taw; Way; Yeo.
• The District of Teignbridge wards of: Ashburton & Buckfastleigh; Bovey; Chudleigh; Haytor; Kenn Valley; Moretonhampstead; Teign Valley.
• The Borough of West Devon wards of: Chagford; Drewsteignton; Exbourne; Hatherleigh; Okehampton North; Okehampton South; South Tawton.

The East Devon ward of Exe Valley was included in the new constituency of Exmouth and Exeter East. Otherwise, only a very minor change to the boundary in the District of Teignbridge.

Members of Parliament

Election		Member[6]	Party
	2010	Mel Stride	Conservative

Elections

Central Devon election results

Elections in the 2020s

General election 2024: Central Devon^[7]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
	Conservative	Mel Stride	16,831	31.5	−23.8
	Labour	Ollie Pearson	16,770	31.4	+6.6
	Liberal Democrats	Mark Wooding	8,232	15.4	+0.4
	Reform UK	Jeffrey Leeks	7,784	14.6	N/A
	Green	Gill Westcott	3,338	6.2	+1.3
	Independent	Arthur Price	477	0.9	N/A
Majority			61	0.1	−30.4
Turnout			53,432	70.9	−6.3
Registered electors			75,385
	Conservative hold		Swing	−15.2

Elections in the 2010s

2019 notional result[8]
Party		Vote	%
	Conservative	31,366	55.3
	Labour	14,066	24.8
	Liberal Democrats	8,503	15.0
	Green	2,789	4.9
Turnout		56,724	77.2
Electorate		73,491

General election 2019: Central Devon^[9]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
	Conservative	Mel Stride	32,095	55.3	+1.2
	Labour	Lisa Webb	14,374	24.8	−2.2
	Liberal Democrats	Alison Eden	8,770	15.1	+3.4
	Green	Andy Williamson	2,833	4.9	+2.3
Majority			17,721	30.5	+3.4
Turnout			58,072	77.5	−1.1
	Conservative hold		Swing	+1.7

General election 2017: Central Devon^[10]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
	Conservative	Mel Stride	31,278	54.1	+1.9
	Labour	Lisa Webb	15,598	27.0	+14.2
	Liberal Democrats	Alex White	6,770	11.7	−0.5
	Green	Andy Williamson	1,531	2.6	−6.3
	UKIP	Tim Matthews	1,326	2.3	−10.9
	NHA	John Dean	871	1.5	N/A
	Liberal	Lloyd Knight	470	0.8	N/A
Majority			15,680	27.1	−11.9
Turnout			57,844	78.6	+3.7
	Conservative hold		Swing

General election 2015: Central Devon^[11]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
	Conservative	Mel Stride	28,436	52.2	+0.7
	UKIP	John Conway	7,171	13.2	+7.9
	Labour	Lynne Richards[12]	6,985	12.8	+5.9
	Liberal Democrats	Alex White	6,643	12.2	−22.2
	Green	Andy Williamson	4,866	8.9	+7.0
	Independent	Arthur Price	347	0.6	N/A
Majority			21,265	39.0	+11.9
Turnout			54,448	74.9	−0.8
	Conservative hold		Swing

General election 2010: Central Devon^[13]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
	Conservative	Mel Stride	27,737	51.5	+7.7
	Liberal Democrats	Phil Hutty	18,507	34.4	−4.4
	Labour	Moira Macdonald	3,715	6.9	−4.7
	UKIP	Bob Edwards	2,870	5.3	−0.5
	Green	Colin Matthews	1,044	1.9	N/A
Majority			9,230	17.1	+12.1
Turnout			53,873	75.7	+5.8
	Conservative hold		Swing	+6.1[n 3]

See also

• List of parliamentary constituencies in Devon

Notes

1. A county constituency (for the purposes of election expenses and type of returning officer)
2. As with all constituencies, the constituency elects one Member of Parliament (MP) by the first past the post system of election at least every five years.
3. Notional