# Central Devon (UK Parliament constituency)

Central Devon is a constituency represented in the House of Commons of the UK Parliament since 2010 by Mel Stride of the Conservative Party.

## History

The constituency was created for the 2010 general election, following a review of parliamentary representation in Devon by the Boundary Commission for England, which increased seats in the county from 11 to 12. Central Devon covers parts of the East Devon, Mid Devon, Teignbridge and West Devon districts.
The wards from the last election presented a notional Conservative majority of just over 1,700, making it a marginal seat at the first election. Despite this, Mel Stride's majority over the Liberal Democrats was 17.1 percentage points with an absolute majority. Stride held the seat comfortably at the next three elections (2015, 2017 and 2019), but only just held on at the 2024 general election with a majority of 0.1% (61 votes) over the Labour Party candidate.

## Boundaries
### 2010–2024

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

### 2024–present

Further to the 2023 Periodic Review of Westminster constituencies which came into effect for the 2024 general election, and a local government boundary review in Mid Devon District which came into effect in May 2023, the constituency is composed of the following:
* The District of Mid Devon wards of: Bradninch (nearly all); Cadbury; Crediton Boniface; Crediton Lawrence; Sandford & Creedy; Silverton; Taw Vale; Upper Yeo & Taw; Way; Yeo.
* The District of Teignbridge wards of: Ashburton & Buckfastleigh; Bovey; Chudleigh; Haytor; Kenn Valley; Moretonhampstead; Teign Valley.
* The Borough of West Devon wards of: Chagford; Drewsteignton; Exbourne; Hatherleigh; Okehampton North; Okehampton South; South Tawton.
The East Devon ward of Exe Valley was included in the new constituency of Exmouth and Exeter East. Otherwise, only a very minor change to the boundary in the District of Teignbridge.

## Members of Parliament

| Election | Election | Member | Party |
| | 2010 | Mel Stride | Conservative |

## Elections
### Elections in the 2020s

General election 2024: Central Devon :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | Mel Stride | 16,831 | 31.5 | −23.8 |
| | Labour | Ollie Pearson | 16,770 | 31.4 | +6.6 |
| | Liberal Democrats | Mark Wooding | 8,232 | 15.4 | +0.4 |
| | Reform UK | Jeffrey Leeks | 7,784 | 14.6 | N/A |
| | Green | Gill Westcott | 3,338 | 6.2 | +1.3 |
| | Independent | Arthur Price | 477 | 0.9 | N/A |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 61 | 0.1 | −30.4 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 53,432 | 70.9 | −6.3 |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 75,385 | | |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Swing | −15.2 | |

### Elections in the 2010s

2019 notional result :
| Party | Party | Vote | % |
| | Conservative | 31,366 | 55.3 |
| | Labour | 14,066 | 24.8 |
| | Liberal Democrats | 8,503 | 15.0 |
| | Green | 2,789 | 4.9 |
| Turnout | Turnout | 56,724 | 77.2 |
| Electorate | Electorate | 73,491 |
General election 2019: Central Devon :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | Mel Stride | 32,095 | 55.3 | +1.2 |
| | Labour | Lisa Webb | 14,374 | 24.8 | −2.2 |
| | Liberal Democrats | Alison Eden | 8,770 | 15.1 | +3.4 |
| | Green | Andy Williamson | 2,833 | 4.9 | +2.3 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 17,721 | 30.5 | +3.4 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 58,072 | 77.5 | −1.1 |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Swing | +1.7 | |
General election 2017: Central Devon :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | Mel Stride | 31,278 | 54.1 | +1.9 |
| | Labour | Lisa Webb | 15,598 | 27.0 | +14.2 |
| | Liberal Democrats | Alex White | 6,770 | 11.7 | −0.5 |
| | Green | Andy Williamson | 1,531 | 2.6 | −6.3 |
| | UKIP | Tim Matthews | 1,326 | 2.3 | −10.9 |
| | NHA | John Dean | 871 | 1.5 | N/A |
| | Liberal | Lloyd Knight | 470 | 0.8 | N/A |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 15,680 | 27.1 | −11.9 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 57,844 | 78.6 | +3.7 |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Swing | | |
General election 2015: Central Devon :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | Mel Stride | 28,436 | 52.2 | +0.7 |
| | UKIP | John Conway | 7,171 | 13.2 | +7.9 |
| | Labour | Lynne Richards | 6,985 | 12.8 | +5.9 |
| | Liberal Democrats | Alex White | 6,643 | 12.2 | −22.2 |
| | Green | Andy Williamson | 4,866 | 8.9 | +7.0 |
| | Independent | Arthur Price | 347 | 0.6 | N/A |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 21,265 | 39.0 | +11.9 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 54,448 | 74.9 | −0.8 |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Swing | | |
General election 2010: Central Devon :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | Mel Stride | 27,737 | 51.5 | +7.7 |
| | Liberal Democrats | Phil Hutty | 18,507 | 34.4 | −4.4 |
| | Labour | Moira Macdonald | 3,715 | 6.9 | −4.7 |
| | UKIP | Bob Edwards | 2,870 | 5.3 | −0.5 |
| | Green | Colin Matthews | 1,044 | 1.9 | N/A |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 9,230 | 17.1 | +12.1 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 53,873 | 75.7 | +5.8 |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Swing | +6.1 | |