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Totnes (UK Parliament constituency)

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Totnes was a parliamentary constituency[n 1] in Devon represented in the House of Commons of the UK Parliament.[n 2]

Totnes
Former county constituency
for the House of Commons
Outline map
Boundary of Totnes in Devon
Outline map
Location of Devon within England
CountyDevon
Electorate67,562 (December 2010)[1]
Major settlementsTotnes, Dartmouth, Kingsbridge, Salcombe and Brixham
1997–2024
SeatsOne
Created fromSouth Hams
Replaced bySouth Devon
1885–1983
SeatsOne
Type of constituencyCounty constituency
Created fromSouth Devon
Replaced byTeignbridge and South Hams[2]
1295–1868
SeatsTwo
Type of constituencyBorough constituency
Replaced byDevon Southern

Under the 2023 Periodic Review of Westminster constituencies, the constituency name was abolished. With to minor boundary changes, it was renamed South Devon at the 2024 general election.[3]

History

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An original parliamentary borough of Totnes or Totness[4] was created in 1295. It returned two MPs to the House of Commons of England until 1707, then to the House of Commons of Great Britain until 1800, and finally to the House of Commons of the United Kingdom from 1801 until it was abolished under the Representation of the People Act 1867 with effect from the 1868 election. The constituency was reformed in 1885, in a much narrower form than previously.

It was abolished again at the 1983, largely replaced by the South Hams constituency. In 1997, South Hams was abolished and largely replaced by the reformed Totnes. At the 2024 general election, the name Totnes disappeared once again, as the constituency was renamed South Devon constituency with minor boundary changes.

Political history

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The constituency was a generally safe seat for the Conservative Party since the 1920s; it returned a Conservative MP at every general election for which it existed since 1924 (as did South Hams, the constituency that replaced it between 1983 and 1997), though it came close to falling to the Liberal Democrats in 1997, 2001 and 2005.

Its Conservative MP from 2010, Dr Sarah Wollaston, defected to the Liberal Democrats in 2019, after a brief spell as an independent, and prior to that as a member of Change UK, a new party formed from MPs formerly Conservative or Labour, after she became disillusioned with the Conservative Party's position on Brexit. She came second to a new Conservative candidate in 2019.

During the 2016 EU Referendum, Totnes is estimated to have narrowly voted to Leave, by 53.9% vs. 46.1% Remain. Although the town of Totnes itself is a Remain stronghold, the larger town of Brixham and the rural areas of the constituency voted in favour of Brexit.

Boundaries

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Map of boundaries 2010-2024

1885–1918: The Municipal Borough of Totnes, and the Sessional Divisions of Ermington and Plympton, and Stanborough and Coleridge.

1918–1950: The Municipal Borough of Totnes, the Urban Districts of Ashburton, Buckfastleigh, Kingsbridge, Newton Abbot, Salcombe, and Teignmouth, the Rural District of Kingsbridge, and parts of the Rural Districts of Newton Abbot and Totnes.

1950–1974: The Municipal Boroughs of Clifton, Dartmouth, Hardness, and Totnes, the Urban Districts of Ashburton, Buckfastleigh, Kingsbridge, Newton Abbot, and Salcombe, the Rural Districts of Kingsbridge and Newton Abbot, and part of the Rural District of Totnes.

1974–1983: The Municipal Boroughs of Clifton, Dartmouth, Hardness, and Totnes, the Urban Districts of Ashburton, Buckfastleigh, Kingsbridge, Newton Abbot, and Salcombe, and the Rural Districts of Kingsbridge, Newton Abbot, and Totnes.

1997–2010: The District of South Hams wards of Avon and Harbourne, Avonleigh, Dartington, Dartmouth Clifton, Dartmouth Hardness, Dart Valley, Eastmoor, Garabrook, Kingsbridge, Kingswear, Malborough, Marldon, Salcombe, Saltstone, Skerries, South Brent, Stoke Gabriel, Stokenham, Thurlestone, Totnes, Totnes Bridgetown, and West Dart, the Borough of Torbay wards of Blatchcombe, Furzeham with Churston, and St Peter's with St Mary's, and the District of Teignbridge wards of Ambrook, Ashburton, and Buckfastleigh.

2010–2024: The District of South Hams wards of Allington and Loddiswell, Avon and Harbourne, Dartington, Dartmouth and Kingswear, Dartmouth Townstal, East Dart, Eastmoor, Kingsbridge East, Kingsbridge North, Marldon, Salcombe and Malborough, Saltstone, Skerries, South Brent, Stokenham, Thurlestone, Totnes Bridgetown, Totnes Town, West Dart, and Westville and Alvington, and the Borough of Torbay wards of Berry Head with Furzeham, Blatchcombe, Churston with Galmpton, and St Mary's with Summercombe.

The Totnes constituency covered the eastern part of the South Hams district of Devon, including the towns of Totnes, Dartmouth, Kingsbridge and Salcombe, as well as parts of the unitary authority of Torbay, including the town of Brixham.

Constituency profile

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Post-1997 recreation, the seat was divided between the South Hams and Torbay council areas, with around 60% of the electorate residing in the former and 40% in the latter in its final form after the 2010 boundary changes.[5]

Despite the name of the constituency, the largest town in it was not Totnes but Brixham, a fishing port in the Torbay portion of the seat of around 17,000 people. Totnes itself, a market town in South Hams of around 9,000 renowned for its alternative and "New Age" community, accounted for only around 10% of the voters in the constituency bearing its name.[5]

The seat also included the South Hams towns of Kingsbridge, Salcombe and Dartmouth, as well as the western suburbs of the Torbay town of Paignton, most of which belonged to the Torbay constituency.[5]

Much of the constituency was rural, taking in numerous villages in the picturesque South Hams district as well as the Torbay village of Churston.[5]

Workless claimants, registered jobseekers, ere in November 2012 significantly lower than the national average of 3.8%, at 2.4% of the population based on a statistical compilation by The Guardian.[6]

Members of Parliament

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MPs 1295–1660

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Constituency created 1295

Parliament First member Second member
1295 Johannes de Blakedon[7]
1362 Richard Whitelegh[8]
1366 John Prescott[9]
1372 John Prescott[9]
1373 John Prescott[9]
1377 (Jan) William Burlestone
1377 (Oct) William Burlestone
1380 (Jan) William Burlestone
1381 William Burlestone
1383 (Feb) William Burlestone[10]
1386 Robert French John Pasford[11]
1388 (Feb) John Row Walter Browning[11]
1388 (Sep) John Statham Walter Browning[11]
1390 (Jan) John Poltimore Walter Hotot[11]
1390 (Nov)
1391 John Grey Thomas Norris[11]
1393 John Suell Robert Barneburgh[11]
1394 Richard Whitelegh John Pasford[11]
1395 Ellis Beare John Marshall[11]
1397 (Jan) John Gunne Ellis Beare[11]
1397 (Sep)
1399 Simon Marsh John Rose[11]
1401
1402 Henry Spencer John Hulle[11]
1404 (Jan)
1404 (Oct)
1406 Robert Wastell John Warwick[11]
1407 Alfred Wonston Sir John Pomeroy[11]
1410 Henry Austin Robert Wastell[11]
1411 John Bosom Henry Bremeler[11]
1413 (Feb)
1413 (May) John Sebright Henry Austin[11]
1414 (Apr)
1414 (Nov) William Ryder Henry Berkeley[11]
1415
1416 (Mar)
1416 (Oct)
1417
1419
1420 John Ash Walter Serle[11]
1421 (May) Henry Berkeley Thomas Kirkby[11]
1421 (Dec) Henry Chesewell William Cosyn[11]
1449 Adam Cokkys[7] Johannes Prall[7]
1450 Johannes Hobbys[7] Thomas Calwodeley[7]
1455 William Fowell[12] of Fowelscombe
1472 William Hody[13]
1491 Lewis Pollard[14]
1510-1523 No names known[15]
1529 John Giles Adam Ralegh[15]
1536 ?
1539 ?
1542 ?
1545 Roger Prideaux John Gale[15]
1547 Roger Prideaux Edmund Sture[15]
1553 (Mar) John Wotton Christopher Savery[15]
1553 (Oct) John Wotton Christopher Savery[15]
1554 (Apr) John Eveleigh Henry Gildon[15]
1554 (Nov) Richard Savery Christopher Savery[15]
1555 Peter Edgecombe Leonard Yeo[15]
1558 Bernard Smith Leonard Yeo[15]
1558–9 Leonard Yeo Sir Nicholas Poyntz[16]
1562–3 Sir Arthur Champernowne Richard Edgecombe I[16]
1571 Richard Hurleston John Stanhope[16]
1572 Robert Monson, made judge
and repl. 1576 by Robert Beale		 Edward Buggin[16]
1584 Christopher Savery Nicholas Ball[16]
1586 John Giles Nicholas Hayman[16]
1588 Richard Edgecombe Simon Kelway[16]
1593 Richard Sparry Christopher Savery[16]
1597 Edward Giles Christopher Buggin[16]
1601 Leonard Darr Philip Holditch[16]
1604 Christopher Brocking Walter Dollings
1614 Nathaniel Rich Lawrence Adams
1621–1622 Sir Edward Giles Richard Rodd
1624 Arthur Champernoun Sir Edward Giles
1625 Sir Edward Seymour, 2nd Baronet Sir Edward Giles
1626 Arthur Champernoun Philip Holditch
1628-1629 Sir Edward Giles Thomas Prestwood
1629–1640 No Parliaments summoned
Apr 1640 Oliver St John John Maynard[citation needed]
Nov 1640 Oliver St John John Maynard[citation needed]
1645 Oliver St John John Maynard[citation needed]
1648 Oliver St John John Maynard[citation needed]
1653 Totnes not represented in Barebone's Parliament[citation needed]
1654 Major-General Desborough (one seat only)[citation needed]
1656 Christopher Maynard (one seat only)[citation needed]
1659 Capt. John Pleydell Gilbert Evelyn[citation needed]

MPs 1660–1868

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Two members

Year First member[17] First party Second member[17] Second party
1660 Thomas Chafe Thomas Clifford
1661 Sir Edward Seymour, 3rd Baronet Tory
1673 Sir Thomas Berry
Feb 1679 John Kelland
Aug 1679 Edward Seymour (later 4th Baronet) Tory
1681 Charles Kelland John Kelland
1685 Sir Edward Seymour, 3rd Baronet Tory
1689 Rawlin Mallock Sir John Fowell, Bt
1690 Henry Seymour Portman
1692 Thomas Coulson
1695 Sir Edward Seymour, 4th Baronet Tory Edward Yarde
1698 Thomas Coulson
1699 Francis Gwyn
1701 Sir Christopher Musgrave, Bt
1702 William Seymour Tory
1705 Sir Humphrey Mackworth Tory
1708 Sir Edward Seymour, 5th Baronet Tory George Courtenay
1710 Thomas Coulson Francis Gwyn
1713 Stephen Northleigh
1715 Arthur Champernowne
1717 Sir John Germain, Bt
1718 Sir Charles Wills
1722 Joseph Banks
1727 Exton Sayer
1732 Sir Henry Gough, Bt
1734 Sir Joseph Danvers, Bt
1742 John Strange Whig
1747 Charles Taylor
Apr 1754 Browse Trist
Dec 1754 Sir Richard Lloyd
1759 Richard Savage Lloyd
1763 Henry Seymour
1768 Sir Philip Jennings-Clerke, Bt Peter Burrell
1774 James Amyatt
1780 Launcelot Brown
1784 The Hon. Henry Phipps Tory
1788 Viscount Barnard Whig
1790 William Powlett Powlett Sir Francis Buller Yarde, Bt
1796 The Lord Arden Lord George Seymour
1801 William Adams Tory[18]
1802 John Berkeley Burland
1804 Vicary Gibbs Tory[18]
1806 Benjamin Hall Tory[18]
1811 Thomas Courtenay Tory[18]
1812 Ayshford Wise Whig[18]
1818 William Holmes Tory[18]
1820 John Bent
1826 The Earl of Darlington Tory[18]
1830 Charles Barry Baldwin Tory[18][19]
1832 Jasper Parrott Whig[18] James Cornish Whig[18]
1835 Lord Seymour Whig[18][20][21]
1839 William Blount[n 3][18][22][23] (Whig) Charles Barry Baldwin[n 3] (Con)[18][19][20][24]
1840 Charles Barry Baldwin Conservative
1852 Thomas Mills Whig
1855 The Earl of Gifford Whig
1859 Liberal Liberal
1862 John Pender Liberal
1863 Alfred Seymour Liberal
1866 John Pender declared not duly elected and seat left vacant
1868 Constituency disenfranchised by the Reform Act 1867

MPs 1885–1983

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One member

Year Member[17] Whip
1885 Francis Mildmay Liberal
1886 Liberal Unionist
1912 Unionist
1922 Samuel Harvey Unionist
1923 Henry Vivian Liberal
1924 Samuel Harvey Unionist
1935 Ralph Rayner Conservative
1955 Ray Mawby Conservative
1983 constituency abolished: see South Hams and Teignbridge

MPs 1997–2024

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Between 1983 and 1997 the constituency was replaced by the South Hams constituency. Anthony Steen was returned at every election.

Election Member[17] Party
1997 Anthony Steen Conservative
2010 Sarah Wollaston Conservative
2019 Change UK
Independent
Liberal Democrats
2019 Anthony Mangnall Conservative
2024 constituency abolished: see South Devon

Elections

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Elections in the 2010s

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General election 2019: Totnes[25]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative Anthony Mangnall 27,751 53.2  0.5
Liberal Democrats Sarah Wollaston 15,027 28.8  15.9
Labour Louise Webberley 8,860 17.0  9.8
Independent John Kitson 544 1.0 New
Majority 12,724 24.4  2.5
Turnout 52,182 74.7  1.6
Conservative hold Swing  8.2
General election 2017: Totnes[26]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative Sarah Wollaston 26,972 53.7  0.7
Labour Gerrie Messer 13,495 26.8  14.1
Liberal Democrats Julian Brazil 6,466 12.9  3.0
Green Jacqi Hodgson 2,097 4.2  6.1
UKIP Steven Harvey 1,240 2.5  11.6
Majority 13,477 26.9  12.0
Turnout 50,353 73.1  4.5
Conservative hold Swing  6.7
General election 2015: Totnes[27][28]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative Sarah Wollaston 24,941 53.0 +7.1
UKIP Justin Haque 6,656 14.1 +8.1
Labour Nicky Williams 5,988 12.7 +5.3
Green Gill Coombs 4,845 10.3 +7.8
Liberal Democrats Julian Brazil 4,667 9.9 −25.7
Majority 18,385 38.9 +28.6
Turnout 47,097 68.6 −1.8
Conservative hold Swing
General election 2010: Totnes[29][30]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative Sarah Wollaston 21,940 45.9 +3.0
Liberal Democrats Julian Brazil 17,013 35.6 −1.5
Labour Carole Whitty 3,538 7.4 −4.7
UKIP Jeffrey Beer 2,890 6.0 −1.5
Green Lydia Somerville 1,181 2.5 New
BNP Mike Turner 624 1.3 New
Independent Simon Drew 390 0.8 New
Independent Stephen Hopwood 267 0.6 New
Majority 4,927 10.3 +4.5
Turnout 47,843 70.4 +0.7
Conservative hold Swing +2.3

Elections in the 2000s

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General election 2005: Totnes[31]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative Anthony Steen 21,112 41.7 −2.8
Liberal Democrats Mike Treleaven 19,165 37.9 +0.7
Labour Valerie Burns 6,185 12.2 0.0
UKIP Roger Knapman 3,914 7.7 +1.6
Independent Michael Thompson 199 0.4 New
Majority 1,947 3.8 −3.5
Turnout 50,575 67.7 −0.2
Conservative hold Swing −1.7
General election 2001: Totnes[32]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative Anthony Steen 21,914 44.5 +8.0
Liberal Democrats Rachel Oliver 18,317 37.2 +2.3
Labour Thomas Wildy 6,005 12.2 −4.2
UKIP Craig Mackinlay 3,010 6.1 +4.2
Majority 3,597 7.3 +5.7
Turnout 49,246 67.9 −7.9
Conservative hold Swing

Elections in the 1990s

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General election 1997: Totnes[33]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative Anthony Steen 19,637 36.5
Liberal Democrats Rob Chave 18,760 34.9
Labour Victor Ellery 8,796 16.4
Referendum Pamela Cook 2,552 4.7
Ind. Conservative Christopher Venmore 2,369 4.4
UKIP H.W. Thomas 999 1.9
Green Andy Pratt 548 1.0
Independent James Golding 108 0.2
Majority 877 1.6
Turnout 53,769 75.8
Conservative win (new seat)

Elections in the 1970s

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General election 1979: Totnes
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative Ray Mawby 35,010 52.16
Liberal Anthony H. Rogers 24,445 36.42
Labour Co-op John Duffin 7,668 11.42
Majority 10,565 15.74
Turnout 67,123 79.95
Conservative hold Swing
General election October 1974: Totnes
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative Ray Mawby 27,987 45.18
Liberal Anthony H. Rogers 21,586 34.85
Labour S.M. Spence 12,366 19.96
Majority 6,401 10.33
Turnout 61,939 76.74
Conservative hold Swing
General election February 1974: Totnes
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative Ray Mawby 30,565 46.93
Liberal Anthony H. Rogers 20,922 32.12
Labour Harold M. Luscombe 13,249 20.34
Independent J. Lewis 394 0.60 New
Majority 9,643 14.81
Turnout 65,130 81.29
Conservative hold Swing
General election 1970: Totnes
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative Ray Mawby 31,519 54.85
Labour Robert Blank 16,429 28.59
Liberal David Penhaligon 9,515 16.56
Majority 15,090 26.26
Turnout 57,463 76.67
Conservative hold Swing

Elections in the 1960s

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General election 1966: Totnes
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative Ray Mawby 25,623 47.81
Labour Barry Smethurst 16,900 31.54
Liberal Paul Tyler 11,066 20.65
Majority 8,723 16.27
Turnout 53,589 79.43
Conservative hold Swing
General election 1964: Totnes
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative Ray Mawby 25,417 48.64
Labour Reginald C.J. Scott 14,542 27.83
Liberal Edward B. Taylor 12,297 23.53
Majority 10,875 20.81
Turnout 52,256 78.83
Conservative hold Swing

Elections in the 1950s

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General election 1959: Totnes
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative Ray Mawby 26,925 53.04
Labour Terence J.B. Heelas 13,116 25.84
Liberal T. Cedric Jones 10,719 21.12
Majority 13,809 27.20
Turnout 50,760 80.48
Conservative hold Swing
General election 1955: Totnes
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative Ray Mawby 26,381 52.10
Labour Daniel J.P. Mann 14,787 29.20
Liberal Arthur Claude Shobbrook 9,471 18.70
Majority 11,594 22.90
Turnout 50,639 80.75
Conservative hold Swing
General election 1951: Totnes
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative Ralph Rayner 28,005 53.60
Labour Charles A. O'Donnell 16,409 31.40
Liberal Harold Ernest Desch 7,838 15.00
Majority 11,596 22.20
Turnout 52,252 82.85
Conservative hold Swing
General election 1950: Totnes
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative Ralph Rayner 26,104 49.01
Labour David Widdicombe 15,767 29.60
Liberal Harold Ernest Desch 10,974 20.60
Communist E. Tapscott 423 0.79 New
Majority 10,337 19.41
Turnout 53,268 84.59
Conservative hold Swing

Elections in the 1940s

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General election 1945: Totnes
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative Ralph Rayner 24,638 51.04
Labour J.R. Warde 16,098 33.35
Liberal Thomas Henry Aggett 7,536 15.61
Majority 8,540 17.69
Turnout 48,092 74.57
Conservative hold Swing

Elections in the 1930s

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General Election 1939–40: Another General Election was required to take place before the end of 1940. The political parties had been making preparations for an election to take place and by the Autumn of 1939, the following candidates had been selected;

General election 1935: Totnes
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative Ralph Rayner 24,815 53.59
Liberal Ernest Haylor 17,639 38.10
Labour William Roy John Henwood 3,848 8.31 New
Majority 7,176 15.49
Turnout 46,302 79.24
Conservative hold Swing
General election 1931: Totnes
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative Samual Harvey 26,765 56.99
Liberal Ernest Haylor 20,203 43.01
Majority 6,562 13.98
Turnout 46,968 83.41
Conservative hold Swing

Elections in the 1920s

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General election 1929: Totnes [35]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Unionist Samual Harvey 21,673 47.8 −5.9
Liberal Philip Foale Rowsell 17,790 39.3 −0.9
Labour Kate Spurrell 5,828 12.9 +6.8
Majority 3,883 8.5 −5.0
Turnout 45,291 83.1 −3.0
Unionist hold Swing -2.5
General election 1924: Totnes
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Unionist Samual Harvey 19,771 53.7 +4.5
Liberal Henry Vivian 14,786 40.2 −10.6
Labour Kate Spurrell 2,240 6.1 New
Majority 4,985 13.5 N/A
Turnout 36,797 86.1 +5.4
Unionist gain from Liberal Swing
General election 6 December 1923: Totnes
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Liberal Henry Vivian 16,845 50.8 +3.2
Unionist Samual Harvey 16,343 49.2 −3.2
Majority 502 1.6 N/A
Turnout 33,188 80.7 +2.6
Liberal gain from Unionist Swing +3.2
General election 1922: Totnes
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Unionist Samual Harvey 16,532 52.4 −6.4
Liberal Thomas Underdown 15,032 47.6 +6.4
Majority 1,500 4.8 −12.8
Turnout 31,564 78.1 +14.2
Unionist hold Swing -6.4

Election results 1885-1918

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Elections in the 1910s

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General election 1918: Totnes
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
C Unionist Francis Mildmay 14,680 58.8 −4.5
Liberal John Cairns (Liberal politician) 10,266 41.2 +4.5
Majority 4,414 17.6 −9.0
Turnout 24,946 63.9 −18.1
Unionist hold Swing -4.5
C indicates candidate endorsed by the coalition government.

General Election 1914–15:

Another General Election was required to take place before the end of 1915. The political parties had been making preparations for an election to take place and by July 1914, the following candidates had been selected;

General election December 1910: Totnes [37][38]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Liberal Unionist Francis Mildmay 5,252 63.3 +2.7
Liberal Robert Dunstan 3,040 36.7 −2.7
Majority 2,212 26.6 +5.4
Turnout 8,292 82.0 −7.9
Liberal Unionist hold Swing +2.7
 
Foot
General election January 1910: Totnes [37][38]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Liberal Unionist Francis Mildmay 5,505 60.6 −2.9
Liberal Isaac Foot 3,578 39.4 +2.9
Majority 1,927 21.2 −5.8
Turnout 9,083 89.9 +2.1
Liberal Unionist hold Swing -2.9

Elections in the 1880s

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Lopes
General election 1885: Totnes [37][39][40]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Liberal Francis Mildmay 4,389 57.4
Conservative Henry Lopes 3,252 42.6
Majority 1,137 14.8
Turnout 7,641 83.2
Registered electors 9,188
Liberal win (new seat)
 
Mildmay
General election 1886: Totnes [37][39]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Liberal Unionist Francis Mildmay 4,652 80.3 +37.7
Liberal Edward Pearce-Edgcumbe 1,141 19.7 −37.7
Majority 3,511 60.6 N/A
Turnout 5,793 63.0 −20.2
Registered electors 9,188
Liberal Unionist gain from Liberal Swing +37.7

Elections in the 1900s

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General election 1906: Totnes [37][39]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Liberal Unionist Francis Mildmay 5,226 63.5 N/A
Liberal Lewis Humfrey Edmunds 2,998 36.5 New
Majority 2,228 27.0 N/A
Turnout 8,224 87.8 N/A
Registered electors 9,370
Liberal Unionist hold Swing N/A
General election 1900: Totnes [37][39][41]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Liberal Unionist Francis Mildmay Unopposed
Liberal Unionist hold

Elections in the 1890s

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General election 1895: Totnes [37][39][41]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Liberal Unionist Francis Mildmay 4,630 67.2 +0.3
Liberal Alfred John Sparke 2,264 32.8 −0.3
Majority 2,366 34.4 +0.6
Turnout 6,894 73.1 −4.6
Registered electors 9,431
Liberal Unionist hold Swing +0.3
General election 1892: Totnes [37][39]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Liberal Unionist Francis Mildmay 4,815 66.9 −13.4
Liberal Alfred Herbert Lush 2,384 33.1 +13.4
Majority 2,431 33.8 −26.8
Turnout 7,199 77.7 +14.7
Registered electors 9,263
Liberal Unionist hold Swing -13.4

Election results 1832-1868

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Elections in the 1860s

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General election 1865: Totnes[42]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Liberal John Pender 210 29.0 −9.5
Liberal Alfred Seymour 204 28.2 −4.3
Conservative William Gregory Dawkins 162 22.4 +7.9
Conservative Bedford Pim 147 20.3 +5.8
Majority 42 5.8 +2.2
Turnout 362 (est) 94.6 (est) +6.3
Registered electors 382
Liberal hold Swing −8.2
Liberal hold Swing −5.6

On petition, Pender was unseated on 22 March 1866. No writ was issued to replace him and, in 1868, the seat was disenfranchised and absorbed into South Devon.

By-election, 20 January 1863: Totnes[42]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Liberal Alfred Seymour 165 51.2 −19.8
Conservative John Dent 157 48.8 +19.9
Majority 8 2.4 −1.2
Turnout 322 90.2 +1.9
Registered electors 357
Liberal hold Swing −19.9

By-election caused by the death of George Hay.

By-election, 9 December 1862: Totnes[42]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Liberal John Pender 171 97.2 +26.2
Conservative John Dent[43] 5 2.8 −26.1
Majority 166 94.4 +90.8
Turnout 176 49.3 −39.0
Registered electors 357
Liberal hold Swing +26.2

By-election caused by the death of Thomas Mills.

Elections in the 1850s

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General election 1859: Totnes[42]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Liberal George Hay 180 38.5 +4.0
Liberal Thomas Mills 152 32.5 +2.3
Conservative John Dunn[44] 135 28.9 −6.4
Majority 17 3.6 −2.8
Turnout 301 (est) 88.3 (est) +4.6
Registered electors 341
Liberal hold Swing +3.6
Liberal hold Swing +2.8
General election 1857: Totnes[42][45][46]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Whig George Hay 171 34.5 −12.6
Whig Thomas Mills 150 30.2 +2.6
Peelite James Thomas Mackenzie 118 23.8 +11.1
Peelite John Gregory[47] 57 11.5 −1.2
Majority 32 6.4 +4.1
Turnout 248 (est) 78.7 (est) −0.8
Registered electors 315
Whig hold Swing −8.8
Whig hold Swing −1.2
By-election, 5 November 1855: Totnes[42]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Whig George Hay Unopposed
Whig hold

By-election caused by Edward Seymour becoming 12th Duke of Somerset.

General election 1852: Totnes[42]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Whig Edward Seymour 263 47.1 −0.6
Whig Thomas Mills 154 27.6 +1.5
Conservative Charles Barry Baldwin 141 25.3 −0.9
Majority 13 2.3 −19.2
Turnout 295 (est) 79.5 (est) +1.7
Registered electors 371
Whig hold Swing −0.1
Whig gain from Conservative Swing +1.0
By-election, 30 March 1850: Totnes[42]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Whig Edward Seymour Unopposed
Whig hold

Seymour was appointed Commissioner of Woods, Forests, Land Revenues, Works, and Buildings, requiring a by-election.

Elections in the 1840s

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587
General election 1847: Totnes[42]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Whig Edward Seymour 280 47.7 N/A
Conservative Charles Barry Baldwin 154 26.2 N/A
Whig Samson Ricardo 153 26.1 N/A
Turnout 294 (est) 77.8 (est) N/A
Registered electors 378
Majority 126 21.5 N/A
Whig hold Swing N/A
Majority 1 0.1 N/A
Conservative hold Swing N/A
General election 1841: Totnes[42]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative Charles Barry Baldwin Unopposed
Whig Edward Seymour Unopposed
Registered electors 391
Conservative gain from Whig
Whig hold
By-election, 21 April 1840: Totnes[42]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative Charles Barry Baldwin 158 51.1 +25.5
Whig Thomas Guy Gisborne 151 48.9 −25.5
Majority 7 2.2 N/A
Turnout 309 90.6 +2.5
Registered electors 341
Conservative gain from Whig Swing +25.5

The previous by-election was declared void on petition, causing a by-election.

Elections in the 1830s

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By-election, 26 July 1839: Totnes[42][18]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative Charles Barry Baldwin 142 50.0 +24.4
Whig William Blount 142 50.0 −24.4
Turnout 284 95.6 +7.5
Registered electors 297
Conservative win
Whig win
  • Caused by Parrott's resignation. This by-election was later declared void.
General election 1837: Totnes[42][18]
Party Candidate Votes %
Whig Edward Seymour 192 40.7
Whig Jasper Parrott (MP) 159 33.7
Conservative George Pownall Adams[48] 121 25.6
Majority 38 8.1
Turnout 280 88.1
Registered electors 318
Whig hold
Whig hold
By-election, 24 April 1835: Totnes[42][18]
Party Candidate Votes %
Whig Edward Seymour Unopposed
Whig hold
  • Caused by Seymour's appointment as a Lord Commissioner of the Treasury
General election 1835: Totnes[42][18]
Party Candidate Votes %
Whig Edward Seymour Unopposed
Whig Jasper Parrott (MP) Unopposed
Registered electors 259
Whig hold
Whig hold
By-election, 17 February 1834: Totnes[42][18]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Whig Edward Seymour 153 67.7 −11.7
Radical John Thomas Mayne 73 32.3 N/A
Majority 80 35.4 +16.3
Turnout 226 81.6 −0.9
Registered electors 277
Whig hold Swing −11.7
  • Caused by Cornish's resignation
General election 1832: Totnes[42][18]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Whig James Cornish 127 39.7 N/A
Whig Jasper Parrott (MP) 127 39.7 N/A
Tory Edmund Parker 66 20.6 −79.5
Majority 61 19.1 N/A
Turnout 179 82.5 c. −0.5
Registered electors 217
Whig gain from Tory Swing N/A
Whig gain from Tory Swing N/A
General election 1831: Totnes[18][49]
Party Candidate Votes %
Tory Thomas Courtenay 56 40.6
Tory Charles Barry Baldwin 43 31.2
Tory Henry Vane 39 28.3
Majority 4 2.9
Turnout 78 c. 83.0
Registered electors c. 94
Tory hold
Tory hold
General election 1830: Totnes[18][49]
Party Candidate Votes %
Tory Thomas Courtenay Unopposed
Tory Charles Barry Baldwin Unopposed
Tory hold
Tory hold

See also

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Notes

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  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. ^ a b Both Baldwin and Blount received equal votes at the 1839 by-election and were declared elected. However, this was declared void on 8 April 1840 and a by-election was called

References

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  1. ^ "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.
  2. ^ "'Totnes', Feb 1974 - May 1983". ElectionWeb Project. Cognitive Computing Limited. Archived from the original on 3 April 2016. Retrieved 24 March 2016.
  3. ^ "The 2023 Review of Parliamentary Constituency Boundaries in England – Volume one: Report – South West | Boundary Commission for England". boundarycommissionforengland.independent.gov.uk. Retrieved 2 August 2023.
  4. ^ "No. 19016". The London Gazette. 25 January 1833. p. 170.
  5. ^ a b c d Waller, Robert; Byron Criddle (2007). The Almanac of British Politics (8th ed.). London: Routledge. ISBN 978-0-415-37823-9.
  6. ^ Unemployment claimants by constituency The Guardian
  7. ^ a b c d e Watkin, Hugh (1914). The history of Totnes priory & medieval town, Devonshire, together with the sister priory of Tywardreath, Cornwall.
  8. ^ "WHITELEGH, Richard, of Osborn Newton in Churchstow, Devon". History of Parliament Online. Retrieved 10 May 2013.
  9. ^ a b c "PRESCOTT, John (c.1327-1412), of Prescott, Rake and Exeter, Devon". History of Parliament Online. Retrieved 11 May 2013.
  10. ^ "BURLESTONE (BORLESTON), William (d.1406), of Harberton, Devon. - History of Parliament Online". www.historyofparliamentonline.org.
  11. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r s t "History of Parliament". History of Parliament Trust. Retrieved 4 November 2011.
  12. ^ Vivian, Lt.Col. J.L., (Ed.) The Visitations of the County of Devon: Comprising the Heralds' Visitations of 1531, 1564 & 1620, Exeter, 1895, p.369
  13. ^ Baker, J. H. "Hody, Sir William". Oxford Dictionary of National Biography (online ed.). Oxford University Press. doi:10.1093/ref:odnb/13456. (Subscription or UK public library membership required.)
  14. ^ Baker, J.H., Biography of Sir Lewis Pollard, published in History of Parliament: House of Commons 1439-1509, eds. Wedgwood, J.C., & Holt A.D.
  15. ^ a b c d e f g h i j "History of Parliament". History of Parliament Trust. Retrieved 4 November 2011.
  16. ^ a b c d e f g h i j "History of Parliament". History of Parliament Trust. Retrieved 4 November 2011.
  17. ^ a b c d Leigh Rayment's Historical List of MPs – Constituencies beginning with "T" (part 2)
  18. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r s t u Stooks Smith, Henry. (1973) [1844-1850]. Craig, F. W. S. (ed.). The Parliaments of England (2nd ed.). Chichester: Parliamentary Research Services. pp. 79–81. ISBN 0-900178-13-2.
  19. ^ a b Jenkins, Terry (2009). Fisher, D. R. (ed.). "BALDWIN, Charles Barry (?1789–1859), of 6 Parliament Street, Mdx". The History of Parliament. Retrieved 15 July 2018.
  20. ^ a b "Totnes Election". Morning Post. 3 July 1841. pp. 3–4. Retrieved 15 July 2018 – via British Newspaper Archive.
  21. ^ Cobden, Richard (2015). Howe, Anthony; Morgan, Simon; Bannerman, Gordon (eds.). The Letters of Richard Cobden: Volume IV, 1860-1865. Oxford: Oxford University Press. p. 98. ISBN 978-0-19-921198-2. LCCN 2007028194. Retrieved 15 July 2018 – via Google Books.
  22. ^ "The Spectator". 4 January 1840. p. 11. Retrieved 15 July 2018.
  23. ^ "Totness Election - Close of the Poll". Bucks Herald. 27 July 1839. p. 2. Retrieved 15 July 2018 – via British Newspaper Archive.
  24. ^ "Election Movements in the West of England". Western Courier, West of England Conservative, Plymouth and Devonport Advertiser. 9 June 1841. p. 3. Retrieved 15 July 2018 – via British Newspaper Archive.
  25. ^ "Totnes parliamentary constituency - Election 2019". BBC. Retrieved 19 December 2019.
  26. ^ "Totnes Parliamentary Constituency results". BBC News. 9 June 2017.
  27. ^ "Election Data 2015". Electoral Calculus. Archived from the original on 17 October 2015. Retrieved 17 October 2015.
  28. ^ "Totnes - 2015 Election Results - General Elections Online". geo.digiminster.com. Retrieved 22 June 2018.
  29. ^ "Election Data 2010". Electoral Calculus. Archived from the original on 26 July 2013. Retrieved 17 October 2015.
  30. ^ "BBC News - Election 2010 - Constituency - Totnes". news.bbc.co.uk.
  31. ^ "Election Data 2005". Electoral Calculus. Archived from the original on 15 October 2011. Retrieved 18 October 2015.
  32. ^ "Election Data 2001". Electoral Calculus. Archived from the original on 15 October 2011. Retrieved 18 October 2015.
  33. ^ "Election Data 1997". Electoral Calculus. Archived from the original on 15 October 2011. Retrieved 18 October 2015.
  34. ^ The Liberal Magazine, 1939
  35. ^ British parliamentary election results 1918-1949, Craig, F.W.S.
  36. ^ Western Times Devon, 2 Jun 1914
  37. ^ a b c d e f g h Craig, F. W. S., ed. (1974). British Parliamentary Election Results: 1885-1918. London: Macmillan Press. p. 262. ISBN 9781349022984.
  38. ^ a b Debrett's House of Commons & Judicial Bench, 1916
  39. ^ a b c d e f The Liberal Year Book, 1907
  40. ^ Debrett's House of Commons & Judicial Bench, 1886
  41. ^ a b Debrett's House of Commons & Judicial Bench, 1901
  42. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q Craig, F. W. S., ed. (1977). British Parliamentary Election Results 1832-1885 (1st ed.). London: Macmillan Press. ISBN 978-1-349-02349-3.
  43. ^ "Totnes". Kerry Evening Post. 17 December 1862. p. 5. Retrieved 25 March 2018 – via British Newspaper Archive.
  44. ^ "Totnes". Exeter and Plymouth Gazette. 16 April 1859. p. 5. Retrieved 15 July 2018 – via British Newspaper Archive.
  45. ^ "Totnes Election". Western Times. 4 April 1857. p. 10. Retrieved 15 July 2018 – via British Newspaper Archive.
  46. ^ "Election Intelligence". Huddersfield Chronicle. 14 March 1857. p. 8. Retrieved 15 July 2018 – via British Newspaper Archive.
  47. ^ "Election Movements in Devonshore". Exeter and Plymouth Gazette. 14 March 1857. p. 8. Retrieved 15 July 2018 – via British Newspaper Archive.
  48. ^ "Page 3". London Courier and Evening Gazette. 21 July 1837. p. 3. Retrieved 28 April 2020 – via British Newspaper Archive.
  49. ^ a b Jenkins, Terry. "Totnes". The History of Parliament. Retrieved 28 April 2020.
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