# Plymouth Devonport (UK Parliament constituency)

Plymouth, Devonport was, from 1832 until 2010, a borough constituency represented in the House of Commons of the Parliament of the United Kingdom. It covered part of the city of Plymouth in South West England, including the former borough of Devonport.

## History

The constituency was created as Devonport in 1832, and elected two members until 1918, when the number was reduced to one. Following the amalgamation of Devonport into Plymouth, the constituency was renamed as Plymouth, Devonport.
Devonport has had a number of prominent MPs, including Leslie Hore-Belisha, Michael Foot (who began his Commons career in the seat), and the former SDP leader David Owen. One of its longest serving MPs was the National Liberal, later Conservative Dame Joan Vickers, who held the seat from 1955 until her defeat at the General Election of February 1974.

### Abolition

Following the Fifth Periodic Review of Westminster constituencies by the Boundary Commission for England, constituencies in Plymouth were reorganised, with both Plymouth Sutton and Plymouth Devonport being replaced by new constituencies of Plymouth Sutton and Devonport and Plymouth Moor View from 2010. The vast majority (nearly 90%) of the Plymouth Devonport constituency became part of the new Plymouth Moor View constituency; the exception was Devonport ward which became part of Plymouth Sutton and Devonport.

## Boundaries

1918–1950: The County Borough of Plymouth wards of Ford, Keyham, Molesworth, Nelson, St Aubyn, and St Budeaux.
1950–1951: The County Borough of Plymouth wards of Ford, Keyham, Molesworth, Mount Edgecumbe, Nelson, Pennycross, St Aubyn, St Budeaux, St Peter, and Stoke; and the parish of Tamerton Foliot in the Rural District of Plympton St Mary.
1951–1955: The County Borough of Plymouth wards of Ernesettle, Ford, Molesworth, Nelson, Peverell, St Aubyn, St Budeaux, St Peter, Stoke, Tamerton, and Trelawney.
1955–1974: The County Borough of Plymouth wards of Drake, Ernesettle, Ford, Molesworth, Nelson, St Andrew, St Aubyn, St Budeaux, St Peter, and Stoke.
1974–1983: The County Borough of Plymouth wards of Ernesettle, Ford, St Andrew, St Aubyn, St Budeaux, St Peter, and Stoke.
1983–1997: The City of Plymouth wards of Budshead, Estover, Ham, Honicknowle, Keyham, St Budeaux, and Southway.
1997–2010: The City of Plymouth wards of Budshead, Eggbuckland, Estover, Ham, Honicknowle, Keyham, St Budeaux, and Southway.
From 1950 to 1983, the constituency included Plymouth city centre.

## Members of Parliament
### MPs 1832–1918

| Election | | First member | First party | | Second member | Second party |
| 1832 | | Sir Edward Codrington | Whig | | Sir George Grey | Whig |
| 1840 by-election | | Henry Tufnell | Whig | | Sir George Grey | Whig |
| 1847 | | Henry Tufnell | Whig | | Sir John Romilly | Whig |
| 1852 | | Henry Tufnell | Whig | | Sir George Berkeley | Conservative |
| 1854 by-election | | Thomas Erskine Perry | Whig | | Sir George Berkeley | Conservative |
| 1857 | | Thomas Erskine Perry | Whig | | James Wilson | Whig |
| 1859 | | Thomas Erskine Perry | Liberal | | James Wilson | Liberal |
| 1859 by-election | | Sir Michael Seymour | Liberal | | James Wilson | Liberal |
| 1859 by-election | | Sir Michael Seymour | Liberal | | Sir Arthur William Buller | Liberal |
| 1863 by-election | | William Ferrand | Conservative | | Sir Arthur William Buller | Liberal |
| Jun 1865 by-election | | William Ferrand | Conservative | | Thomas Brassey | Liberal |
| Jul 1865 | | William Ferrand | Conservative | | John Fleming | Conservative |
| 1866 by-election | | Lord Eliot | Liberal | | Montague Chambers | Liberal |
| 1868 | | John Delaware Lewis | Liberal | | Montague Chambers | Liberal |
| 1874 | | Sir John Henry Puleston | Conservative | | George Edward Price | Conservative |
| 1892 | | E. J. C. Morton | Liberal | | Hudson Kearley | Liberal |
| 1902 by-election | | John Lockie | Conservative | | Hudson Kearley | Liberal |
| 1904 by-election | | John Benn | Liberal | | Hudson Kearley | Liberal |
| 1910 (January) | | Sir John Jackson | Conservative | | Sir Clement Kinloch-Cooke | Conservative |
| 1918 | reduced to one seat | reduced to one seat | reduced to one seat | reduced to one seat | reduced to one seat | reduced to one seat |

### MPs 1918–2010

| Election | Member | Party |
| 1918 | Clement Kinloch-Cooke | Coalition Conservative |
| 1922 | Clement Kinloch-Cooke | Conservative |
| 1923 | Leslie Hore-Belisha | Liberal |
| 1931 | Leslie Hore-Belisha | Liberal National |
| 1942 | Leslie Hore-Belisha | National Independent |
| 1945 | Michael Foot | Labour |
| 1955 | Dame Joan Vickers | Conservative and National Liberal |
| 1964 | Dame Joan Vickers | Conservative |
| Feb 1974 | David Owen | Labour |
| 1981 | David Owen | SDP |
| 1988 | David Owen | SDP (1988) |
| 1990 | David Owen | Independent Social Democrat |
| 1992 | David Jamieson | Labour |
| 2005 | Alison Seabeck | Labour |
| 2010 | Constituency abolished: see Plymouth Moor View and Plymouth Sutton and Devonport | Constituency abolished: see Plymouth Moor View and Plymouth Sutton and Devonport |

## Elections
### Elections in the 1830s

General election 1832: Devonport :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Whig | George Grey | 1,178 | 44.6 |
| | Whig | Edward Codrington | 891 | 33.7 |
| | Whig | George Leach | 575 | 21.7 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 316 | 12.0 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 1,477 | 83.1 |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 1,777 | |
| | Whig win (new seat) | Whig win (new seat) | Whig win (new seat) | Whig win (new seat) |
| | Whig win (new seat) | Whig win (new seat) | Whig win (new seat) | Whig win (new seat) |
General election 1835: Devonport :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Whig | Edward Codrington | 1,114 | 39.3 | +5.6 |
| | Whig | George Grey | 956 | 33.7 | −10.9 |
| | Conservative | George Robert Dawson | 764 | 27.0 | New |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 192 | 6.7 | −5.3 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 1,626 | 87.0 | +3.9 |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 1,870 | | |
| | Whig hold | Whig hold | Whig hold | Whig hold | Whig hold |
| | Whig hold | Whig hold | Whig hold | Whig hold | Whig hold |
General election 1837: Devonport :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Whig | Edward Codrington | Unopposed | Unopposed |
| | Whig | George Grey | Unopposed | Unopposed |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 2,145 | |
| | Whig hold | Whig hold | Whig hold | Whig hold |
| | Whig hold | Whig hold | Whig hold | Whig hold |
Grey was appointed Judge Advocate General of the Armed Forces, requiring a by-election.
By-election, 20 February 1839: Devonport :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Whig | George Grey | Unopposed | Unopposed |
| | Whig hold | Whig hold | Whig hold | Whig hold |

### Elections in the 1840s

Codrington resigned by accepting the office of Steward of the Manor of East Hendred, causing a by-election.
By-election, 24 January 1840: Devonport :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Whig | Henry Tufnell | 974 | 56.5 |
| | Conservative | George Robert Dawson | 750 | 43.5 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 224 | 13.0 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 1,724 | 81.3 |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 2,121 | |
| | Whig hold | Whig hold | Whig hold | Whig hold |
General election 1841: Devonport :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Whig | Henry Tufnell | 966 | 36.1 |
| | Whig | George Grey | 932 | 34.8 |
| | Conservative | George Robert Dawson | 780 | 29.1 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 152 | 5.7 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 1,724 | 80.9 |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 2,131 | |
| | Whig hold | Whig hold | Whig hold | Whig hold |
| | Whig hold | Whig hold | Whig hold | Whig hold |
Grey was appointed Home Secretary, requiring a by-election.
By-election, 10 July 1846: Devonport :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Whig | George Grey | Unopposed | Unopposed | Unopposed |
| | Whig hold | Whig hold | Whig hold | Whig hold | Whig hold |
General election 1847: Devonport :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Whig | Henry Tufnell | 1,136 | 37.9 | +1.8 |
| | Whig | John Romilly | 1,022 | 34.1 | −0.7 |
| | Conservative | Joseph Sandars | 842 | 28.1 | −1.0 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 180 | 6.0 | +0.3 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 1,921 (est) | 82.0 (est) | +1.1 |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 2,343 | | |
| | Whig hold | Whig hold | Swing | +1.2 | |
| | Whig hold | Whig hold | Swing | −0.1 | |
Romilly was appointed Solicitor General for England and Wales, requiring a by-election.
By-election, 3 April 1848: Devonport :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Whig | John Romilly | Unopposed | Unopposed | Unopposed |
| | Whig hold | Whig hold | Whig hold | Whig hold | Whig hold |

### Elections in the 1850s

Romilly was appointed Attorney General for England and Wales, requiring a by-election.
By-election, 17 July 1850: Devonport :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Whig | John Romilly | Unopposed | Unopposed | Unopposed |
| | Whig hold | Whig hold | Whig hold | Whig hold | Whig hold |
Romilly was appointed Master of the Rolls, requiring a by-election.
By-election, 2 April 1851: Devonport :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Whig | John Romilly | Unopposed | Unopposed | Unopposed |
| | Whig hold | Whig hold | Whig hold | Whig hold | Whig hold |
General election 1852: Devonport :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Whig | Henry Tufnell | 1,079 | 25.6 | −12.3 |
| | Conservative | George Berkeley | 1,056 | 25.1 | +11.0 |
| | Whig | John Romilly | 1,046 | 24.8 | −9.3 |
| | Conservative | John Heron-Maxwell | 1,032 | 24.5 | +10.4 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 2,107 (est) | 87.5 (est) | +5.5 |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 2,407 | | |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 47 | 1.1 | −4.9 |
| | Whig hold | Whig hold | Swing | −11.5 | |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 10 | 0.3 | N/A |
| | Conservative gain from Whig | Conservative gain from Whig | Swing | +10.9 | |
Tufnell resigned, causing a by-election.
By-election, 11 May 1854: Devonport :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Whig | Thomas Erskine Perry | 1,091 | 61.3 | +10.9 |
| | Conservative | John Heron-Maxwell | 689 | 38.7 | −10.9 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 402 | 22.6 | +21.5 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 1,780 | 73.6 | −13.9 |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 2,417 | | |
| | Whig hold | Whig hold | Swing | +10.9 | |
General election 1857: Devonport :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Whig | Thomas Erskine Perry | Unopposed | Unopposed | Unopposed |
| | Whig | James Wilson | Unopposed | Unopposed | Unopposed |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 2,628 | | |
| | Whig hold | Whig hold | Whig hold | Whig hold | Whig hold |
| | Whig gain from Conservative | Whig gain from Conservative | Whig gain from Conservative | Whig gain from Conservative | Whig gain from Conservative |
General election 1859: Devonport :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Liberal | James Wilson | 1,216 | 26.9 | N/A |
| | Liberal | Thomas Erskine Perry | 1,198 | 26.5 | N/A |
| | Conservative | William Ferrand | 1,075 | 23.7 | New |
| | Conservative | Archibald Peel | 1,039 | 22.9 | New |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 123 | 2.8 | N/A |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 2,264 (est) | 82.1 (est) | N/A |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 2,759 | | |
| | Liberal hold | Liberal hold | Swing | N/A | |
| | Liberal hold | Liberal hold | Swing | N/A | |
Wilson was appointed Vice-President of the Board of Trade, requiring a by-election.
By-election, 27 June 1859: Devonport :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Liberal | James Wilson | Unopposed | Unopposed | Unopposed |
| | Liberal hold | Liberal hold | Liberal hold | Liberal hold | Liberal hold |
Perry resigned after being appointed a member of the Council of India, causing a by-election.
By-election, 9 August 1859: Devonport :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Liberal | Michael Seymour | 1,096 | 51.1 | −2.3 |
| | Conservative | William Ferrand | 1,047 | 48.9 | +2.3 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 49 | 2.2 | −0.6 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 2,143 | 77.7 | −4.4 |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 2,759 | | |
| | Liberal hold | Liberal hold | Swing | −2.3 | |
Wilson resigned, causing a by-election.
By-election, 17 August 1859: Devonport :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Liberal | Arthur William Buller | 1,189 | 51.6 | −1.8 |
| | Conservative | William Ferrand | 1,114 | 48.4 | +1.8 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 75 | 3.2 | +0.4 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 2,303 | 83.5 | +1.4 |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 2,759 | | |
| | Liberal hold | Liberal hold | Swing | −1.8 | |

### Elections in the 1860s

Seymour resigned, causing a by-election.
By-election, 12 February 1863: Devonport :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | William Ferrand | 1,234 | 50.6 | +4.0 |
| | Liberal | Frederick Grey | 1,204 | 49.4 | −4.0 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 30 | 1.2 | N/A |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 2,438 | 88.4 | +6.3 |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 2,758 | | |
| | Conservative gain from Liberal | Conservative gain from Liberal | Swing | +4.0 | |
Buller resigned in order to contest the 1865 Liskeard by-election.
By-election, 22 June 1865: Devonport :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Liberal | Thomas Brassey | 1,264 | 51.1 | −2.3 |
| | Conservative | John Fleming | 1,208 | 48.9 | +2.3 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 56 | 2.2 | −0.6 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 2,472 | 87.7 | +5.6 |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 2,820 | | |
| | Liberal hold | Liberal hold | Swing | −2.3 | |
General election 1865: Devonport :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | John Fleming | 1,307 | 25.5 | +2.6 |
| | Conservative | William Ferrand | 1,290 | 25.2 | +1.5 |
| | Liberal | Thomas Brassey | 1,279 | 25.0 | −1.9 |
| | Liberal | Thomas Phinn | 1,243 | 24.3 | −2.2 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 11 | 0.2 | N/A |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 64 | 1.2 | N/A |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 2,560 (est) | 90.8 (est) | +8.7 |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 2,820 | | |
| | Conservative gain from Liberal | Conservative gain from Liberal | Swing | +2.4 | |
| | Conservative gain from Liberal | Conservative gain from Liberal | Swing | +1.8 | |
The election was declared void on petition, on account of bribery and corrupt practices, causing a by-election.
By-election, 22 May 1866: Devonport :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Liberal | William Eliot | 1,275 | 25.6 | +0.6 |
| | Liberal | Montague Chambers | 1,269 | 25.5 | +1.2 |
| | Conservative | Henry Cecil Raikes | 1,216 | 24.4 | −1.1 |
| | Conservative | Reginald Abbot | 1,215 | 24.4 | −0.8 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 53 | 1.1 | N/A |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 60 | 1.2 | N/A |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 2,488 (est) | 88.2 (est) | −2.6 |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 2,820 | | |
| | Liberal gain from Conservative | Liberal gain from Conservative | Swing | +0.9 | |
| | Liberal gain from Conservative | Liberal gain from Conservative | Swing | +1.0 | |
General election 1868: Devonport :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Liberal | John Delaware Lewis | 1,541 | 26.6 | +1.6 |
| | Liberal | Montague Chambers | 1,519 | 26.2 | +1.9 |
| | Conservative | William Ferrand | 1,370 | 23.6 | −1.6 |
| | Conservative | William Palliser | 1,365 | 23.6 | −1.9 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 149 | 2.6 | N/A |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 176 | 3.0 | N/A |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 2,898 (est) | 85.9 (est) | −4.9 |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 3,374 | | |
| | Liberal gain from Conservative | Liberal gain from Conservative | Swing | +1.6 | |
| | Liberal gain from Conservative | Liberal gain from Conservative | Swing | +1.9 | |

### Elections in the 1870s

General election 1874: Devonport :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | John Henry Puleston | 1,525 | 27.3 | +3.7 |
| | Conservative | George Edward Price | 1,483 | 26.6 | +3.0 |
| | Liberal | John Delaware Lewis | 1,327 | 23.8 | −2.8 |
| | Liberal | George William Culme Soltau Symons | 1,250 | 22.4 | −3.8 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 156 | 2.8 | N/A |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 275 | 4.9 | N/A |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 2,793 (est) | 83.4 (est) | −2.5 |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 3,348 | | |
| | Conservative gain from Liberal | Conservative gain from Liberal | Swing | +3.3 | |
| | Conservative gain from Liberal | Conservative gain from Liberal | Swing | +3.4 | |

### Elections in the 1880s

General election 1880: Devonport :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | John Henry Puleston | 1,753 | 27.0 | −0.3 |
| | Conservative | George Edward Price | 1,746 | 26.9 | +0.3 |
| | Liberal | John Delaware Lewis | 1,509 | 23.3 | −0.5 |
| | Liberal | Alexander Craig Sellar | 1,476 | 22.8 | +0.4 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 237 | 3.6 | +0.8 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 3,242 (est) | 85.5 (est) | +2.1 |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 3,790 | | |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Swing | +0.1 | |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Swing | −0.1 | |
General election 1885: Devonport :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | George Edward Price | 2,968 | 26.5 | −0.4 |
| | Conservative | John Henry Puleston | 2,944 | 26.3 | −0.7 |
| | Liberal | George Webb Medley | 2,653 | 23.7 | +0.4 |
| | Liberal | Thomas Terrell | 2,635 | 23.5 | +0.7 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 291 | 2.6 | −1.0 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 5,646 | 86.5 | +1.0 (est) |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 6,527 | | |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Swing | −0.6 | |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Swing | −0.6 | |
General election 1886: Devonport :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | John Puleston | 2,954 | 30.2 | +3.9 |
| | Conservative | George Price | 2,943 | 30.1 | +3.6 |
| | Liberal | Charles Ford | 1,963 | 20.1 | −3.6 |
| | Liberal | Herbert Lionel Showers | 1,918 | 19.6 | −3.9 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 980 | 10.0 | +7.4 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 4,936 | 75.6 | −10.9 |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 6,527 | | |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Swing | +3.8 | |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Swing | +3.8 | |

### Elections in the 1890s

General election 1892: Devonport :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Liberal | Hudson Kearley | 3,354 | 26.4 | +6.3 |
| | Liberal | E. J. C. Morton | 3,325 | 26.3 | +6.7 |
| | Conservative | George Price | 3,012 | 23.8 | −6.3 |
| | Conservative | Robert Harvey | 2,972 | 23.5 | −6.7 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 313 | 2.5 | N/A |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 382 | 2.9 | N/A |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 6,378 (est) | 83.6 | +8.0 |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 7,629 | | |
| | Liberal gain from Conservative | Liberal gain from Conservative | Swing | +6.3 | |
| | Liberal gain from Conservative | Liberal gain from Conservative | Swing | +6.7 | |
General election 1895: Devonport :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Liberal | Hudson Kearley | 3,570 | 26.2 | −0.2 |
| | Liberal | E. J. C. Morton | 3,511 | 25.7 | −0.6 |
| | Conservative | Pridham Henry Pridham Whippell | 3,303 | 24.2 | +0.4 |
| | Conservative | TU Thynne | 3,263 | 23.9 | +0.4 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 208 | 1.5 | −1.0 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 6,875 (est) | 86.9 | +3.3 |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 7,911 | | |
| | Liberal hold | Liberal hold | Swing | −0.3 | |
| | Liberal hold | Liberal hold | Swing | −0.5 | |

### Elections in the 1900s

General election 1900: Devonport :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Liberal | Hudson Kearley | 3,626 | 25.9 | −0.3 |
| | Liberal | E. J. C. Morton | 3,538 | 25.2 | −0.5 |
| | Conservative | John Lockie | 3,458 | 24.7 | +0.5 |
| | Conservative | F McCormick Goodheart | 3,394 | 24.2 | +0.3 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 80 | 0.5 | −1.0 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 14,016 | 85.1 | −1.8 |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 8,351 | | |
| | Liberal hold | Liberal hold | Swing | −0.4 | |
| | Liberal hold | Liberal hold | Swing | −0.4 | |
1902 Devonport by-election :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | John Lockie | 3,785 | 50.2 | +1.3 |
| | Liberal | Thomas Brassey | 3,757 | 49.8 | −1.3 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 28 | 0.4 | N/A |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 7,542 | 84.3 | −0.8 |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 8,946 | | |
| | Conservative gain from Liberal | Conservative gain from Liberal | Swing | +1.3 | |
1904 Devonport by-election :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Liberal | John Benn | 6,219 | 54.6 | +3.5 |
| | Conservative | John Jackson | 5,179 | 45.4 | −3.5 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 1,040 | 9.2 | +8.7 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 11,398 | 79.3 | −5.8 |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 14,379 | | |
| | Liberal hold | Liberal hold | Swing | +3.5 | |
General election 1906: Devonport :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Liberal | Hudson Kearley | 6,923 | 29.1 | +3.2 |
| | Liberal | John Benn | 6,527 | 27.5 | +2.3 |
| | Conservative | John Jackson | 5,239 | 22.0 | −2.7 |
| | Conservative | F Holme-Summer | 5,080 | 21.4 | −2.8 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 1,288 | 5.5 | +5.0 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 23,769 | 81.4 | −3.7 |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 14,978 | | |
| | Liberal hold | Liberal hold | Swing | +3.0 | |
| | Liberal hold | Liberal hold | Swing | +2.5 | |

### Elections in the 1910s

General election January 1910: Devonport :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | John Jackson | 5,658 | 26.7 | +4.7 |
| | Conservative | Clement Kinloch-Cooke | 5,286 | 24.9 | +3.5 |
| | Liberal | John Benn | 5,146 | 24.2 | −3.3 |
| | Liberal | Samuel Lithgow | 5,140 | 24.2 | −4.9 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 140 | 0.7 | N/A |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 518 | 2.5 | N/A |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 21,230 | 89.2 | +7.8 |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 12,125 | | |
| | Conservative gain from Liberal | Conservative gain from Liberal | Swing | +4.0 | |
| | Conservative gain from Liberal | Conservative gain from Liberal | Swing | +4.2 | |
General election December 1910: Devonport :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | John Jackson | 5,170 | 26.0 | −0.7 |
| | Conservative | Clement Kinloch-Cooke | 5,111 | 25.7 | +0.8 |
| | Liberal | Samuel Lithgow | 4,841 | 24.3 | +0.1 |
| | Liberal | Godfrey Baring | 4,782 | 24.0 | −0.2 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 270 | 1.4 | +0.7 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 19,904 | 83.0 | −6.2 |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 12,125 | | |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Swing | −0.4 | |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Swing | +0.5 | |
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: Clement Kinloch-Cooke, John Jackson
* Liberal: Samuel Lithgow
* Labour:
General election 1918: Plymouth Devonport :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| C | Unionist | Clement Kinloch-Cooke | 13,240 | 62.2 | +10.5 |
| | Labour | Fred Bramley | 4,115 | 19.3 | New |
| | Liberal | Samuel Lithgow | 3,930 | 18.5 | −19.8 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 9,125 | 42.9 | +41.5 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 21,285 | 67.2 | −15.8 |
| | Unionist hold | Unionist hold | Swing | +15.2 | |
| C indicates candidate endorsed by the coalition government. ||||||

### Elections in the 1920s

General election 1922: Plymouth Devonport :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Unionist | Clement Kinloch-Cooke | 10,459 | 42.3 | −19.9 |
| | Liberal | Leslie Hore-Belisha | 8,538 | 34.5 | +16.0 |
| | Labour | Barrington Bates | 5,742 | 23.2 | +3.9 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 1,921 | 7.8 | −35.1 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 24,739 | 79.1 | +11.9 |
| | Unionist hold | Unionist hold | Swing | | |
General election 1923: Plymouth Devonport :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Liberal | Leslie Hore-Belisha | 12,269 | 45.7 | +11.2 |
| | Unionist | Clement Kinloch-Cooke | 10,428 | 38.8 | −3.5 |
| | Labour | Joseph Harris | 4,158 | 15.5 | −7.7 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 1,841 | 6.9 | N/A |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 26,855 | 82.7 | +3.6 |
| | Liberal gain from Unionist | Liberal gain from Unionist | Swing | +7.3 | |
General election 1924: Plymouth Devonport :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Liberal | Leslie Hore-Belisha | 11,115 | 39.7 | −6.0 |
| | Unionist | Samuel Gluckstein | 10,534 | 37.6 | −1.2 |
| | Labour | Holford Knight | 6,350 | 22.7 | +7.2 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 581 | 2.1 | −4.8 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 27,999 | 84.4 | +1.7 |
| | Liberal hold | Liberal hold | Swing | -2.4 | |
General election 1929: Plymouth Devonport :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Liberal | Leslie Hore-Belisha | 15,233 | 45.7 | +6.0 |
| | Unionist | Samuel Gluckstein | 10,688 | 32.0 | −5.6 |
| | Labour | Donald B. Fraser | 7,428 | 22.3 | −0.4 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 4,545 | 13.7 | +11.6 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 33,349 | 82.3 | −2.1 |
| | Liberal hold | Liberal hold | Swing | +5.8 | |

### Elections in the 1930s

General election 1931: Plymouth Devonport :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | National Liberal | Leslie Hore-Belisha | 23,459 | 72.19 |
| | Labour | Paul Reed | 9,039 | 27.81 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 14,420 | 44.38 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 32,498 | 78.18 |
| | National Liberal hold | National Liberal hold | Swing | |
General election 1935: Plymouth Devonport :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | National Liberal | Leslie Hore-Belisha | 20,852 | 68.13 | −4.06 |
| | Labour | John Brown | 9,756 | 31.87 | +4.06 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 11,096 | 36.26 | −8.12 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 30,608 | 72.27 | −5.91 |
| | National Liberal hold | National Liberal hold | Swing | +4.06 | |
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 from 1939 and by the end of this year, the following candidates had been selected;
* Liberal National: Leslie Hore-Belisha
* Labour: Michael Foot

### Elections in the 1940s

General election 1945: Plymouth Devonport :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Labour | Michael Foot | 13,395 | 54.06 | +22.19 |
| | National | Leslie Hore-Belisha | 11,382 | 45.94 | −22.19 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 2,013 | 8.12 | N/A |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 24,777 | 71.11 | −1.16 |
| | Labour gain from National Liberal | Labour gain from National Liberal | Swing | +22.19 | |

### Elections in the 1950s

General election 1950: Plymouth, Devonport :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Labour | Michael Foot | 30,812 | 50.59 | −3.47 |
| | National Liberal | Randolph Churchill | 27,329 | 44.87 | −1.07 |
| | Liberal | Alfred Charles Cann | 2,766 | 4.54 | New |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 3,483 | 5.72 | −2.40 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 60,907 | 87.16 | +16.05 |
| | Labour hold | Labour hold | Swing | -1.20 | |
General election 1951: Plymouth, Devonport :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Labour | Michael Foot | 32,158 | 51.93 | +1.34 |
| | National Liberal | Randolph Churchill | 29,768 | 48.07 | +3.20 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 2,390 | 3.86 | −1.86 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 61,926 | 85.28 | −1.88 |
| | Labour hold | Labour hold | Swing | -0.93 | |
General election 1955: Plymouth, Devonport :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | National Liberal | Joan Vickers | 24,821 | 47.15 | −0.92 |
| | Labour | Michael Foot | 24,721 | 46.96 | −4.97 |
| | Liberal | Arthur Russell Mayne | 3,100 | 5.89 | New |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 100 | 0.19 | N/A |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 52,642 | 77.15 | −8.13 |
| | National Liberal gain from Labour | National Liberal gain from Labour | Swing | +2.03 | |
General election 1959: Plymouth, Devonport :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | National Liberal | Joan Vickers | 28,481 | 56.39 | +9.24 |
| | Labour | Michael Foot | 22,027 | 43.61 | −3.35 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 6,454 | 12.78 | +12.59 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 50,508 | 78.63 | +1.48 |
| | National Liberal hold | National Liberal hold | Swing | +6.26 | |

### Elections in the 1960s

General election 1964: Plymouth, Devonport :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | Joan Vickers | 24,241 | 54.04 | −2.35 |
| | Labour | Rowland Edward Crabb | 20,615 | 45.96 | +2.35 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 3,626 | 8.08 | −4.70 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 44,856 | 73.58 | −5.05 |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Swing | –2.35 | |
General election 1966: Plymouth, Devonport :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | Joan Vickers | 22,760 | 50.35 | −3.69 |
| | Labour | Rowland Edward Crabb | 22,441 | 49.65 | +3.69 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 319 | 0.70 | −7.38 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 45,201 | 76.21 | +2.73 |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Swing | –3.69 | |

### Elections in the 1970s

General election 1970: Plymouth, Devonport :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | Joan Vickers | 21,843 | 51.62 | +1.27 |
| | Labour | F Keith Taylor | 20,471 | 48.38 | −1.27 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 1,372 | 3.24 | +2.54 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 42,314 | 70.95 | −5.26 |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Swing | +1.27 | |
General election February 1974: Plymouth, Devonport :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Labour | David Owen | 15,819 | 42.2 | −6.2 |
| | Conservative | Joan Vickers | 15,382 | 41.0 | −10.6 |
| | Liberal | Nicholas Westbrook | 6,298 | 16.8 | New |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 437 | 1.2 | N/A |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 37,499 | 75.3 | +4.4 |
| | Labour gain from Conservative | Labour gain from Conservative | Swing | +2.2 | |
General election October 1974: Plymouth, Devonport :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Labour | David Owen | 17,398 | 47.3 | +5.1 |
| | Conservative | Joan Vickers | 15,139 | 41.1 | +0.1 |
| | Liberal | N E Westbrook | 3,953 | 10.7 | −6.1 |
| | Independent Liberal | J N Hill | 312 | 0.9 | New |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 2,259 | 6.2 | +5.0 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 36,490 | 73.5 | −1.8 |
| | Labour hold | Labour hold | Swing | +2.5 | |
General election 1979: Plymouth, Devonport :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Labour | David Owen | 16,545 | 47.4 | +0.1 |
| | Conservative | Kenneth Hughes | 15,544 | 44.6 | +3.5 |
| | Liberal | Michael James | 2,360 | 6.8 | −3.9 |
| | National Front | Leonard Bearsford-Walker | 243 | 0.7 | New |
| | Independent | Richard Stoner | 203 | 0.6 | New |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 1,001 | 2.8 | −2.4 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 34,895 | 72.3 | −1.2 |
| | Labour hold | Labour hold | Swing | −1.7 | |

### Elections in the 1980s

General election 1983: Plymouth, Devonport :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | SDP (Alliance) | David Owen | 20,843 | 44.3 |
| | Conservative | Ann Widdecombe | 15,907 | 33.8 |
| | Labour | Julian Priestley | 9,845 | 21.0 |
| | Ind. Conservative | James Sullivan | 292 | 0.6 |
| | BNP | Robert Bearsford-Walker | 72 | 0.2 |
| | Christian Democrat | Faith Hill | 51 | 0.1 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 4,936 | 10.5 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 47,010 | 76.1 |
| | SDP gain from Labour | SDP gain from Labour | Swing | |
* This constituency underwent boundary changes between the 1979 and 1983 general elections and thus calculation of change in vote share is not meaningful.
General election 1987: Plymouth, Devonport :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | SDP (Alliance) | David Owen | 21,039 | 42.3 | −2.0 |
| | Conservative | Tom Jones | 14,569 | 29.3 | −4.5 |
| | Labour | Ian Flintoff | 14,166 | 28.4 | +7.4 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 6,470 | 13.0 | +2.5 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 49,774 | 77.2 | +1.1 |
| | SDP hold | SDP hold | Swing | +3.3 | |

### Elections in the 1990s

General election 1992: Plymouth, Devonport :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Labour | David Jamieson | 24,953 | 48.7 | +20.3 |
| | Conservative | Keith Simpson | 17,541 | 34.3 | +5.0 |
| | Liberal Democrats | Murdoch MacTaggart | 6,315 | 12.3 | −30.0 |
| | SDP | Harold Luscombe | 2,152 | 4.2 | −38.1 |
| | Natural Law | Francis Lyons | 255 | 0.5 | New |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 7,412 | 14.4 | +1.4 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 51,216 | 77.8 | +0.6 |
| | Labour gain from Social Democratic | Labour gain from Social Democratic | Swing | +7.7 | |
General election 1997: Plymouth, Devonport :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Labour | David Jamieson | 31,629 | 60.9 | +13.8 |
| | Conservative | Anthony Johnson | 12,562 | 24.2 | −11.4 |
| | Liberal Democrats | Richard Corpus | 5,570 | 10.7 | −2.5 |
| | Referendum | Clive Norsworthy | 1,486 | 2.9 | New |
| | UKIP | Caroline Farrand | 478 | 0.9 | New |
| | National Democrats | Stephen Ebbs | 238 | 0.4 | New |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 19,067 | 36.7 | +25.2 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 51,963 | 69.8 | −9.0 |
| | Labour hold | Labour hold | Swing | +12.6 | |
This constituency underwent boundary changes between the 1992 and 1997 general elections and thus change in share of vote is based on a notional calculation.

### Elections in the 2000s

General election 2001: Plymouth, Devonport :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Labour | David Jamieson | 24,322 | 58.3 | −2.6 |
| | Conservative | John Glen | 11,289 | 27.1 | +2.9 |
| | Liberal Democrats | Keith Baldry | 4,513 | 10.8 | +0.1 |
| | UKIP | Michael Parker | 958 | 2.3 | +1.4 |
| | Socialist Alliance | Tony Staunton | 334 | 0.8 | New |
| | Socialist Labour | Rob Hawkins | 303 | 0.7 | New |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 13,033 | 31.2 | −5.5 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 41,719 | 56.6 | −13.2 |
| | Labour hold | Labour hold | Swing | −2.7 | |
General election 2005: Plymouth, Devonport :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Labour | Alison Seabeck | 18,612 | 44.3 | −14.0 |
| | Conservative | Richard Cuming | 10,509 | 25.0 | −2.1 |
| | Liberal Democrats | Judith Jolly | 8,000 | 19.1 | +8.3 |
| | UKIP | Bill Wakeham | 3,324 | 7.9 | +5.6 |
| | Independent | Keith Greene | 747 | 1.8 | New |
| | Socialist Labour | Rob Hawkins | 445 | 1.1 | +0.4 |
| | Respect | Tony Staunton | 376 | 0.9 | New |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 8,103 | 19.3 | ―11.9 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 41,982 | 57.6 | +1.0 |
| | Labour hold | Labour hold | Swing | −6.0 | |