# South Devon (UK Parliament constituency)

South Devon, formerly known as the Southern Division of Devon, is a parliamentary constituency in the county of Devon in England. From 1832 to 1885 it returned two Knights of the Shire to the House of Commons of the Parliament of the United Kingdom, elected by the bloc vote system.
Further to the completion of the 2023 Periodic Review of Westminster constituencies, the seat was re-established for the 2024 general election, where it effectively replaced the abolished Totnes constituency with minor boundary changes.

## Boundaries
### Historic

In 1832 the county of Devon, in south western England, was divided for Parliamentary purposes between this constituency and North Devon. In 1868 the Devon county constituencies were re-arranged into North, South and East Devon divisions. Each of these divisions returned two members of Parliament.
In 1885 the three constituencies were again redrawn, so that Devon was represented by eight single member County constituencies (there were also three borough constituencies, two of which returned two members and the third one member). The county was split between the new smaller constituencies of Ashburton (alternatively the Mid Division), Barnstaple (the North-Western Division), Honiton (the Eastern Division), South Molton (the Northern Division), Tavistock (the Western Division), Tiverton (the North-Eastern Division), Torquay and Totnes (the Southern Division). The constituencies in this redistribution are normally referred to by the distinctive place name rather than the alternative compass point designation, so the South Devon division is considered to have been abolished in 1885.
1832–1868: The Hundreds of Axminster, Clyston, Colyton, Ottery St. Mary, East Budleigh, Lifton, Exminster, Teignbridge, Haytor, Coleridge, Stanborough, Ermington, Plympton, Roborough, and Tavistock, and Exeter Castle, and the parts of the hundred of Wonford that are not included in the city of Exeter.
1868–1885: The Hundreds of Black Torrington, Ermington, Lifton, Plympton, Roborough, Stanborough and Coleridge, and Tavistock.

### Current

The re-established constituency is composed of the following (as they existed on 1 December 2020):
* The District of South Hams wards of: Allington & Strete; Blackawton & Stoke Fleming; Charterlands; Dartington & Staverton; Dartmouth & East Dart; Kingsbridge; Loddiswell & Aveton Gifford; Marldon & Littlehempston; Salcombe & Thurlestone; South Brent; Stokenham; Totnes; West Dart.
* The Borough of Torbay wards of: Churston with Galmpton; Collaton St. Mary; Furzeham with Summercombe; King’s Ash; St. Peter’s with St. Mary’s.
It is formed from the former seat of Totnes, with only minor changes to its boundaries.

## Members of Parliament
### 1832–1885

| Election | First member | First party | Second member | Second party |
| 1832 | Lord John Russell | Whig | John Crocker Bulteel | Whig |
| 1835 | Lord John Russell | Whig | Sir John Yarde-Buller, Bt | Conservative |
| May 1835 by-election | Montague Parker | Conservative | Sir John Yarde-Buller, Bt | Conservative |
| 1841 | Lord Courtenay | Conservative | Sir John Yarde-Buller, Bt | Conservative |
| 1849 by-election | Sir Ralph Lopes, Bt | Conservative | Sir John Yarde-Buller, Bt | Conservative |
| 1854 by-election | Sir Lawrence Palk, Bt | Conservative | Sir John Yarde-Buller, Bt | Conservative |
| 1858 by-election | Sir Lawrence Palk, Bt | Conservative | Samuel Trehawke Kekewich | Conservative |
| 1868 | Sir Massey Lopes, Bt | Conservative | Samuel Trehawke Kekewich | Conservative |
| 1873 by-election | Sir Massey Lopes, Bt | Conservative | John Carpenter Garnier | Conservative |
| 1884 by-election | Sir Massey Lopes, Bt | Conservative | John Tremayne | Conservative |
| 1885 | Constituency abolished | Constituency abolished | Constituency abolished | Constituency abolished |

### Since 2024

| Election | Election | Member | Party |
| | 2024 | Caroline Voaden | Liberal Democrats |

## Elections
### Elections in the 2020s

General election 2024: South Devon :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Liberal Democrats | Caroline Voaden | 22,540 | 46.0 | +17.8 |
| | Conservative | Anthony Mangnall | 15,413 | 31.5 | −22.1 |
| | Reform UK | Michael Bagley | 6,363 | 13.0 | N/A |
| | Labour | Daniel Steel | 3,066 | 6.3 | −10.7 |
| | Green | Robert Bagnall | 1,497 | 3.1 | +2.9 |
| | Heritage | Becca Collings | 125 | 0.3 | N/A |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 7,127 | 14.5 | N/A |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 49,004 | 69.3 | −6.3 |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 70,755 | | |
| | Liberal Democrats gain from Conservative | Liberal Democrats gain from Conservative | Swing | +20.0 | |
2019 notional result :
| Party | Party | Vote | % |
| | Conservative | 29,027 | 53.6 |
| | Liberal Democrats | 15,308 | 28.2 |
| | Labour | 9,228 | 17.0 |
| | Independent | 544 | 1.0 |
| | Green | 82 | 0.2 |
| Turnout | Turnout | 54,189 | 75.6 |
| Electorate | Electorate | 71,691 |

### Elections in the 1880s

By-election, 14 Aug 1884: South Devon :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | John Tremayne | Unopposed | Unopposed | Unopposed |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Conservative hold |
General election 1880: South Devon :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | John Carpenter Garnier | Unopposed | Unopposed | Unopposed |
| | Conservative | Massey Lopes | Unopposed | Unopposed | Unopposed |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 7,982 | | |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Conservative hold |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Conservative hold |
Garnier resigned, triggering a by-election.

### Elections in the 1870s

By-election, 19 Mar 1874: South Devon :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | Massey Lopes | Unopposed | Unopposed | Unopposed |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Conservative hold |
General election 1874: South Devon :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | John Carpenter Garnier | Unopposed | Unopposed | Unopposed |
| | Conservative | Massey Lopes | Unopposed | Unopposed | Unopposed |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 8,350 | | |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Conservative hold |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Conservative hold |
Lopes was appointed a Civil Lord of the Admiralty, triggering a by-election.
By-election, 17 Jun 1873: South Devon :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | John Carpenter Garnier | Unopposed | Unopposed | Unopposed |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Conservative hold |

### Elections in the 1860s

General election 1868: South Devon :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | Massey Lopes | 3,234 | 35.3 | N/A |
| | Conservative | Samuel Trehawke Kekewich | 3,233 | 35.3 | N/A |
| | Liberal | John Russell | 2,694 | 29.4 | New |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 539 | 5.9 | N/A |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 5,928 (est) | 73.7 (est) | N/A |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 8,047 | | |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Conservative hold |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Conservative hold |
Kekewich's death triggered a by-election.
General election 1865: South Devon :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | Samuel Trehawke Kekewich | Unopposed | Unopposed | Unopposed |
| | Conservative | Lawrence Palk | Unopposed | Unopposed | Unopposed |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 9,592 | | |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Conservative hold |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Conservative hold |

### Elections in the 1850s

General election 1859: South Devon :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | Samuel Trehawke Kekewich | Unopposed | Unopposed | Unopposed |
| | Conservative | Lawrence Palk | Unopposed | Unopposed | Unopposed |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 9,466 | | |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Conservative hold |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Conservative hold |
By-election, 6 August 1858: South Devon :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | Samuel Trehawke Kekewich | Unopposed | Unopposed | Unopposed |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Conservative hold |
General election 1857: South Devon :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | John Yarde-Buller | Unopposed | Unopposed | Unopposed |
| | Conservative | Lawrence Palk | Unopposed | Unopposed | Unopposed |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 9,625 | | |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Conservative hold |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Conservative hold |
Buller was elevated to the peerage, becoming 1st Baron Churston, triggering a by-election.
By-election, 14 February 1854: South Devon :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | Lawrence Palk | Unopposed | Unopposed | Unopposed |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Conservative hold |
General election 1852: South Devon :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | John Yarde-Buller | Unopposed | Unopposed | Unopposed |
| | Conservative | Ralph Lopes | Unopposed | Unopposed | Unopposed |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 9,569 | | |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Conservative hold |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Conservative hold |
Lopes' death triggered a by-election.

### Elections in the 1840s

By-election, 13 February 1849: South Devon :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | Ralph Lopes | Unopposed | Unopposed | Unopposed |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Conservative hold |
General election 1847: South Devon :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | John Yarde-Buller | Unopposed | Unopposed | Unopposed |
| | Conservative | William Courtenay | Unopposed | Unopposed | Unopposed |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 10,411 | | |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Conservative hold |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Conservative hold |
Courtenay resigned by accepting the office of Steward of the Chiltern Hundreds, triggering a by-election.
General election 1841: South Devon :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | John Yarde-Buller | Unopposed | Unopposed | Unopposed |
| | Conservative | William Courtenay | Unopposed | Unopposed | Unopposed |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 10,783 | | |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Conservative hold |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Conservative hold |

### Elections in the 1830s

General election 1837: South Devon :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Conservative | John Yarde-Buller | 4,974 | 37.1 |
| | Conservative | Montagu Parker | 4,671 | 34.9 |
| | Whig | John Crocker Bulteel | 3,744 | 28.0 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 927 | 6.9 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 8,449 | 78.4 |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 10,775 | |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Conservative hold |
| | Conservative gain from Whig | Conservative gain from Whig | Conservative gain from Whig | Conservative gain from Whig |
By-election, 7 May 1835: South Devon :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Conservative | Montagu Parker | 3,755 | 54.6 |
| | Whig | John Russell | 3,128 | 45.4 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 627 | 9.2 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 6,883 | 84.4 |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 8,160 | |
| | Conservative gain from Whig | Conservative gain from Whig | Conservative gain from Whig | Conservative gain from Whig |
General election 1835: South Devon :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Whig | John Russell | Unopposed | Unopposed |
| | Conservative | John Yarde-Buller | Unopposed | Unopposed |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 8,160 | |
| | Whig hold | Whig hold | Whig hold | Whig hold |
| | Conservative gain from Whig | Conservative gain from Whig | Conservative gain from Whig | Conservative gain from Whig |
Russell was appointed Home Secretary, triggering a by-election.
General election 1832: South Devon :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Whig | John Russell | 3,782 | 35.4 |
| | Whig | John Crocker Bulteel | 3,684 | 34.5 |
| | Tory | John Yarde-Buller | 3,217 | 30.1 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 467 | 4.4 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 6,660 | 89.4 |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 7,453 | |
| | 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) |