South West · England · 76,185Boundary · 2023

Torbay

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Dispatch
Apr 2026

Represented by LD since 2024. Covers Paignton and Torquay. Population 102,926, notably older (median age 48 vs 41 nationally). Median income £25K (below average).

Darling's most distinctive recent act is voting against his own party to oppose the Terminally Ill Adults (End of Life) Bill, which passed its Third Reading in June 2025. He voted no on the final Bill and broke with the Liberal Democrat majority on four further amendments during the Bill's passage -- making assisted dying the clearest point of separation between him and his party. More recently, he has been publicly vocal on welfare, warning against what he called "ill-thought-out" cuts to the benefits budget to fund defence spending, and criticising the government's Pension Schemes Bill as "feckless and dangerous" for pensioners. Both positions align with his membership of the Work and Pensions Committee.

At 67% participation, Darling votes in roughly two-thirds of divisions -- below the Commons average -- but where he does vote, he follows the Liberal Democrat line 98.2% of the time, making him a reliable party-line MP outside of conscience votes. His speeches cluster heavily around economy and jobs, social care, fiscal policy, and local government. His stance profile shows consistent opposition to employer National Insurance increases, strong support for parliamentary and Lords scrutiny, and climate action. He sits noticeably to the left of his party average on workers' rights, trade union rights, and protecting benefits -- and is somewhat less aligned than his party on civil liberties.

326
Commons votes
This parliament
£25k
Median income
HMRC · 2024
76.2k
Electorate
2024 GE

LD regained this seat from Con — last held it in 2010.

Current Member of Parliament

Steve Darling

Steve Darling

Liberal Democrats

Steve Darling is the Liberal Democrat MP for Torbay, and has been an MP continually since 4 July 2024. He currently undertakes the role of Liberal Democrat Spokesperson (Work and Pensions).

Notable Votes

A procedural vote on whether to allow New Clause 16 to be formally considered as part of the Terminally Ill Adults (End of Life) Bill at Report Stage, after proceedings had been interrupted on 13 June when an objection was raised. The debate excerpts do not reveal the substantive content of New Clause 16.

MP voted YesAgainst party majority

MPs voted on the Third Reading of the Terminally Ill Adults (End of Life) Bill — the final Commons vote on whether to pass the assisted dying legislation in its amended form. Passing Third Reading sends the Bill to the House of Lords.

MP voted NoAgainst party majority

Vote on whether to add a provision to the Terminally Ill Adults (End of Life) Bill ensuring that if an independent doctor dies or becomes too ill to complete their assessment before signing off on an assisted dying request, a further referral can be made to another doctor — mirroring an existing provision in the Bill for the attending doctor.

MP voted YesAgainst party majority

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Voting at a Glance

Represented by LD since 2024. Covers Paignton and Torquay. Population 102,926, notably older (median age 48 vs 41 nationally). Median income £25K (below average).

2024 General Election

§ 06This week in Westminster.Live · today’s sittingOrder Paper · refreshed daily

Darling’s scheduled Commons activity this week — whipped divisions, oral questions, debates — drawn from the House of Commons Order Paper.

§ 07The record, at a glance.342 divisions voted

Two readings of the same data. Issue volume shows where Darling has cast the most ballots — a proxy for engagement, not direction. Notable votes are the moments where the whip was free or where they broke ranks.

Issue volume
Top issues by total divisions voted · cumulative this Parliament
Taxation
72
Economy
55
Crime & Policing
34
Employment
28
Education
27
Welfare and Benefits
23
Notable votes
Free votes and rebellions — moments the MP’s own judgment matters more than the whip
Terminally Ill Adults (End of Life) Bill: New Clause 1620 Jun 2025 · free vote
Aye
Terminally Ill Adults (End of Life) Bill: Third Reading20 Jun 2025 · free vote
No
Terminally Ill Adults (End of Life) Bill: Amendment 1220 Jun 2025 · free vote
Aye
§ 08The local picture.11 wards

Constituencies are not uniform. Below — the local council make-up, key facts worth knowing, and the neighbouring seats on either side.

WardCouncillorVotesParty
Barton With WatcombeMike Fox1,121Liberal
Barton With WatcombeSteve Darling1,247Liberal
Barton With WatcombeSwithin Long1,070Liberal
Clifton With MaidenwayCat Johns982Liberal
Clifton With MaidenwayMaggi Douglas-Dunbar1,004Liberal
Cockington With ChelstonMark Anthony Thomas Spacagna744Conserva
Cockington With ChelstonNicole Amil789Independ
EllacombeJermaine Atiya-Alla752Liberal
EllacombeYannis Matthew Nicolaou712Liberal
Goodrington With RoselandsHayley Jeanette Tranter843Conserva
Goodrington With RoselandsJohn Fellows942Conserva
PrestonBarbara Lewis1,567Conserva
Population (2021 Census)
102,926
Electorate 76,185 · 2024 register
Median income
£25,200
HMRC SPI 2024
Households renting privately
29.7%
England average 20.0%
Schools
36
23 primary · 6 secondary
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