# Darlington (UK Parliament constituency)

Darlington is the parliamentary constituency for the eponymous market town in County Durham in the North East of England. It is currently represented in the House of Commons of the UK Parliament by Lola McEvoy of the Labour Party, who was first elected in 2024.
The constituency was created for the 1868 election.

## Constituency profile

The constituency is tightly drawn around the Darlington urban boundary, and is slightly less wealthy and more deprived than the UK average figures.

## Boundaries
### 1868–1885

Under the Reform Act 1867, the proposed contents of the new parliamentary borough were defined as the townships of Darlington, Haughton-le-Skerne, and Cockerton. However, this was amended under the Boundary Act 1868, with the boundary defined as being coterminous with the Municipal Borough of Darlington.
See map on Vision of Britain website.

### 1885–1918

As defined in 1868 with minor amendments.

### 1918–1983

The County Borough of Darlington.
The boundaries were adjusted in 1918, 1950 and 1973 to reflect changes to the boundaries of the county borough.

### 1983–2010

The Borough of Darlington wards of Bank Top, Central, Cockerton East, Cockerton West, college, Eastbourne North, Eastbourne South, Harrowgate Hill, Haughton East, Haughton West, Hummersknott, Lascelles, Lingfield, Mowden, Northgate North, Northgate South, North Road, Park East, Park West, and Pierremont.
No change to boundaries.

### 2010–2024

The Borough of Darlington wards of Bank Top, Central, Cockerton East, Cockerton West, College, Eastbourne, Faverdale, Harrowgate Hill, Haughton East, Haughton North, Haughton West, Hummersknott, Lascelles, Lingfield, Mowden, Northgate, North Road, Park East, Park West, and Pierremont.
Minor change to reflect new ward boundaries.

### 2024–present

Following the 2023 periodic review of Westminster constituencies, enacted by the Parliamentary Constituencies Order 2023, from the 2024 general election, the constituency comprises the following:
The Borough of Darlington wards of: Bank Top & Lascelles; Brinkburn & Faverdale; Cockerton; College; Eastbourne; Harrowgate Hill; Haughton & Springfield; Heighington & Coniscliffe; Hummersknott; Mowden; North Road; Northgate; Park East; Park West; Pierremont; Red Hall & Lingfield; Stephenson; Whinfield.
The constituency was expanded slightly to bring the electorate within the permitted range, by adding the rural ward of Heighington & Coniscliffe from the abolished constituency of Sedgefield.

## Political history

The seat has been held by all three major parties in its long existence, but has been a marginal constituency between the Labour and Conservative parties in the years since the Second World War. Labour held the seat for 27 years from 1992 with their candidate Jenny Chapman winning the seat in 2010 with a 3,388 majority down from 10,404 in the previous election. In 2015, her majority over the Conservatives fell to 3,158. In the 2019 general election Conservative Peter Gibson defeated Chapman with a 3,294 majority before being defeated himself in 2024 by Lola McEvoy of Labour by a margin of 2,298

## Members of Parliament

| Election | Member | Party |
| 1868 | Edmund Backhouse | Liberal |
| 1880 | Theodore Fry | Liberal |
| 1895 | Arthur Pease | Liberal Unionist |
| 1898 by-election | Herbert Pease | Liberal Unionist |
| 1910 | Trebitsch Lincoln | Liberal |
| 1910 | Herbert Pease | Unionist |
| 1923 by-election | William Edwin Pease | Unionist |
| 1926 by-election | Arthur Shepherd | Labour |
| 1931 | Charles Peat | Conservative |
| 1945 | David Hardman | Labour |
| 1951 | Fergus Graham | Conservative |
| 1959 | Anthony Bourne-Arton | Conservative |
| 1964 | Ted Fletcher | Labour |
| 1983 by-election | Oswald O'Brien | Labour |
| 1983 | Michael Fallon | Conservative |
| 1992 | Alan Milburn | Labour |
| 2010 | Jenny Chapman | Labour |
| 2019 | Peter Gibson | Conservative |
| 2024 | Lola McEvoy | Labour |

## Elections
### Elections in the 2020s

General election 2024: Darlington :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Labour | Lola McEvoy | 16,621 | 39.2 | +0.3 |
| | Conservative | Peter Gibson | 14,323 | 33.8 | −15.9 |
| | Reform UK | Michael Walker | 6,852 | 16.2 | +12.6 |
| | Green | Matthew Snedker | 2,847 | 6.7 | +4.2 |
| | Liberal Democrats | Simon Thorley | 1,735 | 4.1 | −0.5 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 2,298 | 5.4 | N/A |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 42,378 | 59.9 | −5.8 |
| | Labour gain from Conservative | Labour gain from Conservative | Swing | +8.1 | |

### Elections in the 2010s

General election 2019: Darlington :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | Peter Gibson | 20,901 | 48.1 | +4.8 |
| | Labour | Jenny Chapman | 17,607 | 40.5 | –10.1 |
| | Liberal Democrats | Anne-Marie Curry | 2,097 | 4.8 | +2.5 |
| | Brexit Party | Dave Mawson | 1,544 | 3.5 | New |
| | Green | Matthew Snedker | 1,057 | 2.4 | +1.2 |
| | Independent | Monty Brack | 292 | 0.7 | New |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 3,294 | 7.6 | N/A |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 43,498 | 65.6 | −2.0 |
| | Conservative gain from Labour | Conservative gain from Labour | Swing | +7.4 | |
General election 2017: Darlington :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Labour | Jenny Chapman | 22,681 | 50.6 | +7.7 |
| | Conservative | Peter Cuthbertson | 19,401 | 43.3 | +8.1 |
| | UKIP | Kevin Brack | 1,180 | 2.6 | −10.5 |
| | Liberal Democrats | Anne-Marie Curry | 1,031 | 2.3 | −2.5 |
| | Green | Matthew Snedker | 524 | 1.2 | −2.3 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 3,280 | 7.3 | −0.4 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 44,817 | 67.6 | +5.1 |
| | Labour hold | Labour hold | Swing | −0.2 | |
General election 2015: Darlington :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Labour | Jenny Chapman | 17,637 | 42.9 | +3.5 |
| | Conservative | Peter Cuthbertson | 14,479 | 35.2 | +3.7 |
| | UKIP | David Hodgson | 5,392 | 13.1 | +10.3 |
| | Liberal Democrats | Anne-Marie Curry | 1,966 | 4.8 | −18.6 |
| | Green | Michael Cherrington | 1,444 | 3.5 | New |
| | TUSC | Alan Docherty | 223 | 0.5 | New |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 3,158 | 7.7 | −0.2 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 41,141 | 62.5 | +0.6 |
| | Labour hold | Labour hold | Swing | −0.1 | |
In the 2015 election, 89 ballot papers were issued omitting the UKIP candidate before the error was corrected.
General election 2010: Darlington :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Labour | Jenny Chapman | 16,891 | 39.4 | −13.0 |
| | Conservative | Edward Legard | 13,503 | 31.5 | +5.5 |
| | Liberal Democrats | Mike Barker | 10,046 | 23.4 | +4.9 |
| | BNP | Amanda Foster | 1,262 | 2.9 | New |
| | UKIP | Charlotte Bull | 1,194 | 2.8 | +0.9 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 3,388 | 7.9 | −18.5 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 42,896 | 61.9 | +1.6 |
| | Labour hold | Labour hold | Swing | −9.2 | |

### Elections in the 2000s

General election 2005: Darlington :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Labour | Alan Milburn | 20,643 | 52.4 | −3.9 |
| | Conservative | Anthony Frieze | 10,239 | 26.0 | −4.3 |
| | Liberal Democrats | Robert Adamson | 7,269 | 18.5 | +7.6 |
| | UKIP | John Hoodless | 730 | 1.9 | New |
| | Veritas | David Davies | 507 | 1.3 | New |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 10,404 | 26.4 | +0.4 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 39,388 | 60.88 | −1.2 |
| | Labour hold | Labour hold | Swing | +0.2 | |
General election 2001: Darlington :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Labour | Alan Milburn | 22,479 | 56.3 | −5.3 |
| | Conservative | Tony Richmond | 12,095 | 30.3 | +2.0 |
| | Liberal Democrats | Robert Adamson | 4,358 | 10.9 | +3.7 |
| | Socialist Alliance | Alan Docherty | 469 | 1.2 | New |
| | Independent | Craig Platt | 269 | 0.7 | New |
| | Socialist Labour | Amanda Rose | 229 | 0.6 | New |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 10,384 | 26.0 | −7.3 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 39,899 | 62.1 | −11.8 |
| | Labour hold | Labour hold | Swing | −3.6 | |

### Elections in the 1990s

General election 1997: Darlington :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Labour | Alan Milburn | 29,658 | 61.6 | +13.5 |
| | Conservative | Peter Scrope | 13,633 | 28.3 | −14.7 |
| | Liberal Democrats | Leslie Boxell | 3,483 | 7.2 | −1.1 |
| | Referendum | Michael Blakey | 1,399 | 2.9 | New |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 16,025 | 33.3 | +28.2 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 48,172 | 73.9 | −9.7 |
| | Labour hold | Labour hold | Swing | | |
General election 1992: Darlington :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Labour | Alan Milburn | 26,556 | 48.1 | +6.5 |
| | Conservative | Michael Fallon | 23,758 | 43.0 | −3.6 |
| | Liberal Democrats | Peter Bergg | 4,586 | 8.3 | −3.5 |
| | BNP | Donald Clarke | 355 | 0.6 | New |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 2,798 | 5.1 | N/A |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 55,255 | 83.6 | +2.8 |
| | Labour gain from Conservative | Labour gain from Conservative | Swing | +5.0 | |

### Elections in the 1980s

General election 1987: Darlington :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | Michael Fallon | 24,831 | 46.6 | +2.0 |
| | Labour | Ossie O'Brien | 22,170 | 41.6 | +3.8 |
| | Liberal | Arthur Collinge | 6,289 | 11.8 | −5.6 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 2,661 | 5.0 | −1.8 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 53,290 | 80.8 | 0.0 |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Swing | | |
General election 1983: Darlington :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | Michael Fallon | 22,434 | 44.6 | |
| | Labour | Ossie O'Brien | 18,996 | 37.8 | |
| | SDP | Ray Dutton | 8,737 | 17.4 | |
| | Christian Democratic Party | A.H. Clark | 108 | 0.2 | New |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 3,438 | 6.8 | N/A |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 50,275 | 80.8 | |
| | Conservative gain from Labour | Conservative gain from Labour | Swing | | |
1983 Darlington by-election :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Labour | Ossie O'Brien | 20,544 | 39.5 | −6.0 |
| | Conservative | Michael Fallon | 18,132 | 34.9 | −8.5 |
| | SDP | Anthony Cook | 12,735 | 24.5 | +14.3 |
| | Monster Raving Loony | Screaming Lord Sutch | 374 | 0.7 | New |
| | Independent | Arthur Clark | 164 | 0.3 | New |
| | Tactical Voting Annihilates Bennite Tatchellites | Thomas Keen | 27 | 0.1 | New |
| | Yoga and Meditation | Jitendra Bardwaj | 15 | 0.0 | New |
| | Republican | Peter Smith | 10 | 0.0 | New |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 2,412 | 4.6 | +2.5 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 52,001 | | |
| | Labour hold | Labour hold | Swing | +1.25 | |

### Elections in the 1970s

General election 1979: Darlington :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Labour | Edward Fletcher | 22,565 | 45.52 | 0.0 |
| | Conservative | Timothy Kirkhope | 21,513 | 43.39 | +5.8 |
| | Liberal | K. Walker | 5,054 | 10.19 | −6.4 |
| | National Front | H. Outhwaite | 444 | 0.90 | New |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 1,052 | 2.12 | −5.8 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 49,576 | 78.40 | +4.00 |
| | Labour hold | Labour hold | Swing | −2.82 | |
General election October 1974: Darlington :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Labour | Edward Fletcher | 21,334 | 45.55 |
| | Conservative | Brian Hord | 17,620 | 37.62 |
| | Liberal | Peter Freitag | 7,882 | 16.83 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 3,714 | 7.93 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 46,836 | 74.40 |
| | Labour hold | Labour hold | Swing | |
General election February 1974: Darlington :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Labour | Edward Fletcher | 20,546 | 40.75 |
| | Conservative | Brian Hord | 18,477 | 36.65 |
| | Liberal | Peter Freitag | 11,398 | 22.61 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 2,069 | 4.10 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 50,421 | 80.78 |
| | Labour hold | Labour hold | Swing | |
General election 1970: Darlington :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Labour | Edward Fletcher | 23,208 | 48.47 |
| | Conservative | Anthony Bourne-Arton | 19,447 | 40.62 |
| | Liberal | Stuart S. Newton | 5,222 | 10.91 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 3,761 | 7.85 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 47,877 | 76.44 |
| | Labour hold | Labour hold | Swing | |

### Elections in the 1960s

General election 1966: Darlington :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Labour | Edward Fletcher | 23,909 | 50.50 |
| | Conservative | Anthony Bourne-Arton | 19,546 | 41.28 |
| | Liberal | Robert Oakeshott | 3,891 | 8.22 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 4,363 | 9.22 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 47,346 | 82.26 |
| | Labour hold | Labour hold | Swing | |
General election 1964: Darlington :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Labour | Edward Fletcher | 21,751 | 45.15 | |
| | Conservative | Anthony Bourne-Arton | 19,841 | 41.19 | |
| | Liberal | Gurney Pease | 6,578 | 13.66 | |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 1,910 | 3.96 | N/A |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 48,170 | 82.98 | |
| | Labour gain from Conservative | Labour gain from Conservative | Swing | | |

### Elections in the 1950s

General election 1959: Darlington :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | Anthony Bourne-Arton | 24,318 | 48.56 | |
| | Labour | Ronald Lewis | 19,901 | 39.74 | |
| | Liberal | John Patrick McQuade | 5,863 | 11.71 | New |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 4,417 | 8.82 | |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 50,082 | 84.40 | |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Swing | | |
General election 1955: Darlington :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Conservative | Fergus Graham | 25,765 | 52.64 |
| | Labour | Arnold John Parkinson | 23,184 | 47.36 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 2,581 | 5.28 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 48,949 | 82.34 |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Swing | |
General election 1951: Darlington :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | Fergus Graham | 26,858 | 50.77 | |
| | Labour | David Hardman | 26,045 | 49.23 | |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 813 | 1.54 | N/A |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 52,903 | 87.11 | |
| | Conservative gain from Labour | Conservative gain from Labour | Swing | | |
General election 1950: Darlington :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Labour | David Hardman | 23,528 | 44.78 |
| | Conservative | Geraldyne Edith Mary Walford | 17,421 | 33.16 |
| | Liberal | Gordon Victor Rogers | 11,588 | 22.06 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 6,107 | 11.62 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 52,537 | 88.48 |
| | Labour hold | Labour hold | Swing | |

### Election in the 1940s

General election 1945: Darlington :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Labour | David Hardman | 21,442 | 48.91 | |
| | Conservative | Charles Peat | 13,153 | 30.02 | |
| | Liberal | Gordon Victor Rogers | 9,215 | 21.03 | |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 8,289 | 18.89 | N/A |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 43,810 | 80.09 | |
| | Labour gain from Conservative | Labour gain from Conservative | Swing | | |

### Elections in the 1930s

General election 1935: Darlington :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Conservative | Charles Peat | 22,320 | 55.21 |
| | Labour | Arthur Shepherd | 18,105 | 44.79 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 4,215 | 10.42 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 40,435 | 84.79 |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Swing | |
General election 1931: Darlington :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | Charles Peat | 24,416 | 60.72 | |
| | Labour | Arthur Shepherd | 15,798 | 39.28 | |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 8,618 | 21.44 | N/A |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 40,214 | 89.47 | |
| | Conservative gain from Labour | Conservative gain from Labour | Swing | | |

### Elections in the 1920s

General election 1929: Darlington :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Labour | Arthur Shepherd | 17,061 | 44.0 | −0.5 |
| | Unionist | Robert Stewart | 15,596 | 40.2 | −3.1 |
| | Liberal | John Joseph Richardson | 6,149 | 15.8 | +3.6 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 1,465 | 3.8 | +2.6 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 38,806 | 89.6 | +2.0 |
| | Labour hold | Labour hold | Swing | +1.3 | |
1926 Darlington by-election :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Labour | Arthur Shepherd | 12,965 | 44.5 | −1.7 |
| | Unionist | E. H. Pease | 12,636 | 43.3 | −10.5 |
| | Liberal | John Dickie | 3,573 | 12.2 | New |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 329 | 1.2 | N/A |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 29,174 | 87.6 | +1.5 |
| | Labour gain from Unionist | Labour gain from Unionist | Swing | +4.4 | |
General election 1924: Darlington :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Unionist | William Edwin Pease | 15,174 | 53.8 | +11.6 |
| | Labour | Arthur Shepherd | 13,008 | 46.2 | +12.6 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 2,166 | 7.6 | −1.0 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 28,182 | 86.1 | −0.7 |
| | Unionist hold | Unionist hold | Swing | −0.5 | |
General election 1923: Darlington :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Unionist | William Edwin Pease | 11,638 | 42.2 | −14.4 |
| | Labour | Will Sherwood | 9,284 | 33.6 | −9.8 |
| | Liberal | Robert Wright | 6,697 | 24.2 | New |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 2,354 | 8.6 | −4.6 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 27,619 | 86.8 | +1.5 |
| | Unionist hold | Unionist hold | Swing | −2.3 | |
1923 Darlington by-election :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Unionist | William Edwin Pease | 14,684 | 56.6 | +6.9 |
| | Labour | Will Sherwood | 11,271 | 43.4 | +9.6 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 3,413 | 13.2 | −2.7 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 25,955 | 85.3 | −2.7 |
| | Unionist hold | Unionist hold | Swing | −1.4 | |
General election 1922: Darlington :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Unionist | Herbert Pease | 13,286 | 49.7 | −11.8 |
| | Labour | Will Sherwood | 9,048 | 33.8 | New |
| | Liberal | Thomas Crooks | 4,419 | 16.5 | −22.0 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 4,238 | 15.9 | −7.1 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 26,753 | 88.0 | +20.2 |
| | Unionist hold | Unionist hold | Swing | N/A | |

## Election results 1868–1918
### Elections in the 1860s

General election 1868: Darlington :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Liberal | Edmund Backhouse | 1,789 | 67.2 | |
| | Independent Liberal | Henry King Spark | 875 | 32.8 | |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 914 | 34.4 | |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 2,664 | 87.1 | |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 3,057 | | |
| | Liberal win (new seat) | Liberal win (new seat) | Liberal win (new seat) | Liberal win (new seat) | Liberal win (new seat) |

### Elections in the 1870s

General election 1874: Darlington :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Liberal | Edmund Backhouse | 1,625 | 45.9 | −21.3 |
| | Independent Liberal | Henry King Spark | 1,607 | 45.4 | +12.6 |
| | Conservative | Thomas Gibson Bowles | 305 | 8.6 | New |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 18 | 0.5 | −33.9 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 3,537 | 86.8 | −0.3 |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 4,073 | | |
| | Liberal hold | Liberal hold | Swing | −17.0 | |

### Elections in the 1880s

General election 1880: Darlington :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Liberal | Theodore Fry | 2,772 | 67.6 | +21.7 |
| | Independent Liberal | Henry King Spark | 1,331 | 32.4 | −13.0 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 1,441 | 35.2 | +34.7 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 4,103 | 82.6 | −4.2 |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 4,966 | | |
| | Liberal hold | Liberal hold | Swing | +17.4 | |
General election 1885: Darlington :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Liberal | Theodore Fry | 3,302 | 61.2 | −6.4 |
| | Conservative | William Wilson-Todd | 2,096 | 38.8 | New |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 1,206 | 22.4 | −12.8 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 5,398 | 91.4 | +8.8 |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 5,907 | | |
| | Liberal hold | Liberal hold | Swing | | |
General election 1886: Darlington :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Liberal | Theodore Fry | 2,620 | 50.5 | –10.7 |
| | Liberal Unionist | H. O. Arnold-Forster | 2,563 | 49.5 | +10.7 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 57 | 1.0 | –21.4 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 5,183 | 87.7 | –3.7 |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 5,907 | | |
| | Liberal hold | Liberal hold | Swing | –10.7 | |

### Elections in the 1890s

General election 1892: Darlington :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Liberal | Theodore Fry | 2,866 | 50.5 | 0.0 |
| | Liberal Unionist | Arthur Pease | 2,810 | 49.5 | 0.0 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 56 | 1.0 | 0.0 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 5,676 | 93.9 | +6.2 |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 6,045 | | |
| | Liberal hold | Liberal hold | Swing | 0.0 | |
General election 1895: Darlington :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Liberal Unionist | Arthur Pease | 3,354 | 55.4 | +5.9 |
| | Liberal | Theodore Fry | 2,697 | 44.6 | –5.9 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 657 | 10.8 | N/A |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 6,051 | 92.2 | –1.7 |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 6,560 | | |
| | Liberal Unionist gain from Liberal | Liberal Unionist gain from Liberal | Swing | +5.9 | |
Pease's death causes a by-election.
1898 Darlington by-election :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Liberal Unionist | Herbert Pease | 3,497 | 55.5 | +0.1 |
| | Liberal | Owen Philipps | 2,809 | 44.5 | −0.1 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 688 | 11.0 | +0.2 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 6,306 | 90.7 | −1.5 |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 6,952 | | |
| | Liberal Unionist hold | Liberal Unionist hold | Swing | +0.1 | |

### Elections in the 1900s

General election 1900: Darlington :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Liberal Unionist | Herbert Pease | Unopposed | Unopposed | Unopposed |
| | Liberal Unionist hold | Liberal Unionist hold | Liberal Unionist hold | Liberal Unionist hold | Liberal Unionist hold |
General election 1906: Darlington :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Liberal Unionist | Herbert Pease | 4,375 | 51.7 | N/A |
| | Labour Repr. Cmte. | Isaac Mitchell | 4,087 | 48.3 | New |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 288 | 3.4 | N/A |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 8,462 | 93.2 | N/A |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 9,078 | | |
| | Liberal Unionist hold | Liberal Unionist hold | Swing | N/A | |

### Elections in the 1910s

General election January 1910: Darlington :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Liberal | Ignaz Trebitsch-Lincoln | 4,815 | 50.2 | New |
| | Liberal Unionist | Herbert Pease | 4,786 | 49.8 | −1.9 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 29 | 0.4 | N/A |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 9,601 | 95.1 | +1.9 |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 10,097 | | |
| | Liberal gain from Liberal Unionist | Liberal gain from Liberal Unionist | Swing | | |
General election December 1910: Darlington :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Liberal Unionist | Herbert Pease | 4,881 | 52.2 | +2.4 |
| | Lib-Lab | Frederick Maddison | 4,475 | 47.8 | −2.4 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 406 | 4.4 | N/A |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 9,356 | 92.7 | −2.4 |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 10,097 | | |
| | Liberal Unionist gain from Liberal | Liberal Unionist gain from Liberal | Swing | +2.4 | |
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;
* Unionist: Herbert Pease
* Liberal: Alfred Scott
* Labour: T. Russell Williams
General election 1918: Darlington :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| C | Unionist | Herbert Pease | 11,951 | 61.5 | +9.3 |
| | Liberal | Alfred Scott | 7,494 | 38.5 | −9.3 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 4,457 | 23.0 | +18.6 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 19,445 | 67.8 | −24.9 |
| | Unionist hold | Unionist hold | Swing | +9.3 | |
| C indicates candidate endorsed by the coalition government. ||||||