# Torbay Council elections

Torbay Council is the local authority for the unitary authority of Torbay in Devon, England. Until 1 April 1998 it was a non-metropolitan district. From 2005 to 2019 it had a directly elected mayor. The council is elected every four years.

## Council elections
### Non-metropolitan district elections

* 1973 Torbay Borough Council election
* 1976 Torbay Borough Council election
* 1979 Torbay Borough Council election
* 1983 Torbay Borough Council election (New ward boundaries)
* 1984 Torbay Borough Council election
* 1986 Torbay Borough Council election
* 1987 Torbay Borough Council election
* 1988 Torbay Borough Council election
* 1990 Torbay Borough Council election
* 1991 Torbay Borough Council election
* 1995 Torbay Borough Council election

### Unitary authority elections

* 1997 Torbay Council election
* 2000 Torbay Council election
* 2003 Torbay Council election (New ward boundaries)
* 2007 Torbay Council election
* 2011 Torbay Council election
* 2015 Torbay Council election
* 2019 Torbay Council election (New ward boundaries)
* 2023 Torbay Council election

## Mayoral elections

A referendum took place on 14 July 2005 on establishing a directly elected mayor. The result saw a majority in favour with 18,074 in support and 14,684 opposed on a 32.1% turnout.
* 2005 Torbay Council mayoral election
* 2011 Torbay Council mayoral election
* 2015 Torbay Council mayoral election
A referendum took place on 5 May 2016 on reverting to a leader and cabinet system. The result saw a majority in favour of a leader and cabinet system with 15,846 votes in support of the leader and cabinet system and 9,511 wanting to stick with an elected mayor, on a 25.3% turnout.

## Borough result maps

* 2011 results map
* 2015 results map
* 2019 results map
* 2023 results map

## By-election results
### 1997–2000

Tormohun By-Election 15 January 1998 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | | 1,380 | 46.3 | +10.9 |
| | Liberal Democrats | | 884 | 29.7 | −2.4 |
| | Independent | | 521 | 17.5 | −3.5 |
| | Labour | | 195 | 6.5 | −5.0 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 469 | 16.6 | |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 2,980 | 35.0 | |
| | Conservative gain from Liberal Democrats | Conservative gain from Liberal Democrats | Swing | | |
Tormohun By-Election 17 September 1998 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | Damian Barton | 671 | 38.2 | +5.9 |
| | Liberal Democrats | Jennifer Faulkner | 667 | 38.0 | −5.3 |
| | Labour | Darren Cowell | 321 | 18.3 | −6.1 |
| | Liberal | | 97 | 5.5 | +5.5 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 4 | 0.2 | |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 1,756 | | |
| | Conservative gain from Liberal Democrats | Conservative gain from Liberal Democrats | Swing | | |
Preston By-Election 8 April 1999 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | | 1,504 | 51.4 | +16.0 |
| | Liberal Democrats | | 1,129 | 38.6 | +6.5 |
| | Labour | | 295 | 10.1 | −1.4 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 375 | 12.8 | |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 2,928 | 34.0 | |
| | Conservative gain from Liberal Democrats | Conservative gain from Liberal Democrats | Swing | | |

### 2000–2003

Ellacombe By-Election 7 December 2000 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Liberal Democrats | Andrew Blake | 1,151 | 62.9 | +32.9 |
| | Conservative | David Selley | 546 | 29.8 | −7.2 |
| | Labour | Pauline Digby | 94 | 5.1 | +0.0 |
| | Independent | Lionel Digby | 40 | 2.2 | +2.2 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 605 | 33.1 | |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 1,831 | 24.7 | |
| | Liberal Democrats gain from Conservative | Liberal Democrats gain from Conservative | Swing | | |
Tormohun By-Election 29 November 2001 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Liberal Democrats | Christopher Harris | 1,201 | 63.4 | −26.3 |
| | Conservative | | 557 | 29.6 | −10.9 |
| | Labour | | 121 | 6.4 | −5.6 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 644 | 33.8 | |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 1,879 | 25.5 | |
| | Liberal Democrats gain from Conservative | Liberal Democrats gain from Conservative | Swing | | |

### 2003–2007

Roundham with Hyde By-Election 20 May 2004 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | Joseph Carroll | 498 | 29.3 | −2.3 |
| | Liberal Democrats | Andrew Douglas-Dunbar | 413 | 24.3 | −24.7 |
| | Independent | Alan Hall | 203 | 11.9 | +4.6 |
| | Labour | David Pedrick-Friend | 203 | 11.9 | −0.1 |
| | UKIP | Mark Dent | 128 | 7.5 | +7.5 |
| | BNP | Michael Turner | 106 | 6.2 | +6.2 |
| | Independent | Pamela Neale | 85 | 5.0 | +5.0 |
| | Independent | Mary Bennett | 63 | 3.7 | +3.7 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 85 | 5.0 | |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 1,699 | 31.2 | |
| | Conservative gain from Liberal Democrats | Conservative gain from Liberal Democrats | Swing | | |
Wellswood By-Election 5 August 2004 (2) :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Conservative | | 964 | |
| | Conservative | | 923 | |
| | UKIP | | 545 | |
| | UKIP | | 482 | |
| | Liberal Democrats | Tristan Gruber | 198 | |
| | Liberal Democrats | Thomas Pentney | 192 | |
| | Labour | | 102 | |
| | Labour | | 89 | |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 3,496 | 27.6 |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Swing | |
Goodrington with Roselands By-Election 21 October 2004 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | Colin Hurst | 701 | 42.2 | +10.5 |
| | Liberal Democrats | Thomas Pentney | 510 | 30.7 | −27.9 |
| | UKIP | Mark Dent | 284 | 17.1 | +7.4 |
| | Labour | John Mellor | 116 | 7.0 | +7.0 |
| | BNP | Michael Turner | 50 | 3.0 | +3.0 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 191 | 11.5 | |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 1,661 | 30.9 | |
| | Conservative gain from Liberal Democrats | Conservative gain from Liberal Democrats | Swing | | |
Wellswood By-Election 10 March 2005 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | John Hanley | 1,261 | 62.5 | +8.5 |
| | Liberal Democrats | Jefferson Rose | 331 | 16.4 | +5.2 |
| | UKIP | Mark Dent | 326 | 16.1 | −13.3 |
| | Labour | Thomas Millman | 99 | 4.9 | −0.6 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 930 | 46.1 | |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 2,017 | 29.6 | |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Swing | | |
Blatchcombe By-Election 5 May 2005 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | Jeanette Richards | 1,708 | 38.9 | +18.9 |
| | Liberal Democrats | Alan Forbes | 1,563 | 35.6 | −14.1 |
| | Labour | Jonathan Haines | 1,124 | 25.6 | +7.4 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 145 | 3.3 | |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 4,395 | 57.8 | |
| | Conservative gain from Liberal Democrats | Conservative gain from Liberal Democrats | Swing | | |
Churston with Galmpton By-Election 8 December 2005 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | Derek Mills | 1,250 | 77.7 | +27.4 |
| | Liberal Democrats | Andrew Douglas-Dunbar | 270 | 16.8 | −32.9 |
| | Labour | Trevor Fine | 89 | 5.5 | +5.5 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 980 | 60.9 | |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 1,609 | 28.3 | |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Swing | | |

### 2007–2011

Berryhead with Furzeham By-Election 14 June 2007 (3) :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Independent | Michael Morey | 1,006 | |
| | Independent | Vic Ellery | 952 | |
| | Conservative | Martyn Hodge | 853 | |
| | Conservative | Simon Jones | 727 | |
| | Conservative | Alan Craig | 689 | |
| | Independent | Tony Walker | 510 | |
| | Liberal Democrats | Chris Lomas | 483 | |
| | Independent | Nigel James | 397 | |
| | Liberal Democrats | Catherine Johns | 277 | |
| | Liberal Democrats | John Turner | 245 | |
| | BNP | Michael Turner | 159 | |
| | BNP | Maureen Turner | 152 | |
| | BNP | Chris Marchant | 151 | |
| | UKIP | Gary Booth | 145 | |
| | UKIP | Peter Fryett | 129 | |
| | UKIP | Mike Simpson | 93 | |
| | Labour | Patrick Canavan | 71 | |
| | Labour | Jermaine Atiya-Alla | 67 | |
| | Labour | Irene Reade | 66 | |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 7,172 | 31.8 |
| | Independent gain from Liberal Democrats | Independent gain from Liberal Democrats | Swing | |
| | Independent gain from Conservative | Independent gain from Conservative | Swing | |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Swing | |
St. Mary's-with-Summercombe By-Election 22 July 2010 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Liberal Democrats | Andrew Baldrey | 801 | 52.7 |
| | Conservative | Nicholas Henderson | 365 | 24.0 |
| | Labour | Rosemary Ann Clarke | 195 | 12.8 |
| | UKIP | Jen Walsh | 159 | 10.5 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | | |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 2,017 | 1,520 |
| | Liberal Democrats gain from Conservative | Liberal Democrats gain from Conservative | Swing | |

### 2011–2015

Cockington-with-Chelston By-Election 23 June 2011 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Liberal Democrats | Mark Pountney | 1,048 | 46.3 |
| | Conservative | Sylvia Faryna | 614 | 27.1 |
| | Labour | Leonora Critchlow | 357 | 15.8 |
| | Independent | Susie Colley | 129 | 5.7 |
| | Independent | Mark Dent | 61 | 2.7 |
| | Green | Thomas Cooper | 55 | 2.4 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | | |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 2,264 | 26.3 |
| | Liberal Democrats gain from Conservative | Liberal Democrats gain from Conservative | Swing | |

### 2015–2019

Clifton with Maidenway By-Election 5 November 2015 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Liberal Democrats | Adrian Sanders | 1,096 | 69.2 | +39.3 |
| | Conservative | Richard Barnby | 234 | 14.8 | −13.7 |
| | UKIP | Anthony Rayner | 158 | 10.0 | −9.7 |
| | Labour | Eddie Harris | 53 | 3.3 | −9 |
| | Green | Stephen Pocock | 43 | 2.7 | −6.8 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 862 | 54.4 | +53 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 1,584 | 27.6 | |
| | Liberal Democrats hold | Liberal Democrats hold | Swing | +26.5 | |
Tormohun By-Election 5 May 2016 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Liberal Democrats | Nicholas Pentney | 1,126 | 46.7 |
| | Conservative | Jacqueline Wakeham | 533 | 22.1 |
| | Labour | Darren Cowell | 344 | 14.3 |
| | UKIP | Steven Walsh | 315 | 13.1 |
| | Green | Stephen Morley | 66 | 2.7 |
| | TUSC | Michelle Goodman | 27 | 1.1 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 593 | 24.6 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 2,411 | 29.8 |
| | Liberal Democrats gain from Conservative | Liberal Democrats gain from Conservative | Swing | |
Watcombe By-election 14 December 2017 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Liberal Democrats | Swithin Long | 655 | 57.1 |
| | Conservative | Daniel Maddock | 355 | 30.9 |
| | Labour | Julia Neal | 121 | 9.5 |
| | Green | Eleanor Taylor | 17 | 1.4 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 300 | 26.1 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 1,148 | 22.3 |
| | Liberal Democrats hold | Liberal Democrats hold | Swing | |

### 2019–2023

Goodrington with Roselands By-Election 14 November 2019 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | Jane Barnby | 892 | 49.3 | +21.7 |
| | Liberal Democrats | Dennis Shearman | 641 | 35.5 | +4.8 |
| | Brexit Party | Eddie Davis | 168 | 9.3 | +9.3 |
| | Labour | Catherine Fritz | 72 | 4.0 | −2.3 |
| | Green | Jane Hughes | 35 | 1.9 | −7.5 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 251 | 13.9 | |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 1,808 | | |
| | Conservative gain from Liberal Democrats | Conservative gain from Liberal Democrats | Swing | | |
Clifton with Maidenway By-Election 6 May 2021 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Liberal Democrats | Cat Johns | 1,014 | 45.8 | +4.7 |
| | Conservative | John Fellows | 983 | 44.4 | +17.6 |
| | Labour | Andy Symons | 149 | 6.7 | −0.8 |
| | Green | Sue Kenning | 69 | 3.1 | −9.7 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 31 | 1.4 | |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 2,215 | | |
| | Liberal Democrats hold | Liberal Democrats hold | Swing | | |

### 2023–2027

Aby-election was held in June 2024 following the death of independent councillor Patrick Joyce. The Conservatives won the seat, regaining majority control of the council. The change in percentages given below are given in comparison to the general results of the 2023 Torbay Council election.
Wellswood By-Election 6 June 2024 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | Hazel Foster | 938 | 42.3 | −1.8 |
| | Liberal Democrats | Peter Fenton | 929 | 41.9 | +5.3 |
| | Reform UK | Mike Lister | 188 | 8.5 | New |
| | Labour | Jonathan Chant-Stevens | 117 | 5.3 | +3.3 |
| | Green | Jenny Giel | 34 | 1.5 | −6.7 |
| | Independent | Paul Moor | 11 | 0.5 | −8.0 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 9 | 0.4 | |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 2217 | 38.4% | −0.6 |
| | Conservative gain from Independent | Conservative gain from Independent | Swing | 3.55 | |