Devon County Council elections

Devon County Council elections are held every four years in order to elect the members of Devon County Council. Since the last boundary changes in 2017 the council has comprised 60 councillors, representing 58 electoral divisions.^[1] Since 1998, Plymouth and Torbay have been unitary authorities, making them independent of Devon County Council.^[2]

Council elections

Year	Conservative	Liberal Democrats^[a]	Labour	Reform	Green^[b]	Liberal	UKIP	NDM	SDP^[c]	Independent	Council control after election
Year											Council control after election
1973^[3]	54	11	20	–	–	–	–	1	–	12		Conservative
1977^[3]	85	2	3		–			1		7		Conservative
1981^[3]	65	10	16		0			1		6		Conservative
1985^[d]^[3]	37	36	10		0			0		2		No overall control
1989^[3]	55	12	13		0			–	2	3		Conservative
1993^[5]	19	39	21		0	1			0	5		No overall control
1997^[e]^[7]	13	31	4		0	2			–	4		Liberal Democrats
2001^[8]^[9]	22	21	5		0	2	0			4		No overall control
2005^[f]^[11]^[12]	23	33	4		0	0	0			2		Liberal Democrats
2009^[13]^[14]	41	14	4		1	0	0			2		Conservative
2013^[15]	38	9	7		1	0	4			3		Conservative
2017^[g]^[16]	42	7	7		1	0	0			3		Conservative
2021^[17]	39	9	7	0	2	–	0			3		Conservative
2025^[18]	7	27	0	18	6	–	–			2		No overall control

County result maps

2005 results map
2009 results map
2013 results map
2017 results map
2021 results map
2025 results map

By-election results

1993-1997

Plymstock Radford By-Election 7 November 1996
Party		Votes	%
	Conservative	796	37.9
	Labour	659	32.5
	Liberal Democrats	599	29.5
Majority		110	5.4
Turnout		2,054	24.3
	Conservative hold	Swing

1997-2001

Honickknowle By-Election 7 August 1997
Party		Votes	%	±%
	Labour	1,339	61.7	−16.5
	Conservative	414	19.1	−2.8
	Liberal Democrats	345	15.9	+15.9
		72	3.3	+3.3
Majority		925	42.6
Turnout		2,170	23.0
	Labour hold	Swing

Exwick and Cowick By-Election 10 December 1997
Party		Votes	%	±%
	Labour	1,036	59.4	+10.3
	Conservative	336	19.3	−7.0
	Liberal Democrats	282	16.2	−2.7
	Liberal	90	5.2	−0.5
Majority		700	40.1
Turnout		1,744
	Labour hold	Swing

Ilfracombe By-Election 19 February 1998
Party		Votes	%	±%
	Conservative	1,163	45.5	+27.5
	Liberal Democrats	700	27.4	−3.9
	Labour	695	27.3	+15.9
Majority		463	18.1
Turnout		2,558	32.0
	Conservative gain from Independent	Swing

Bradnich and Creedy By-Election 31 March 1999
Party		Votes	%	±%
	Conservative	1,811	51.0	+7.7
	Liberal Democrats	1,505	42.4	+4.6
	Labour	150	4.2	−5.4
	Liberal	82	2.3	−6.9
Majority		306	8.6
Turnout		3,548	40.0
	Conservative hold	Swing

Dawlish By-Election 28 October 1999
Party		Votes	%	±%
	Conservative	1,344	46.2	+7.8
	Liberal Democrats	1,291	44.3	+1.4
	Labour	277	9.5	−9.3
Majority		53	1.9
Turnout		2,912	29.0
	Conservative gain from Liberal Democrats	Swing

2001-2005

Ilfracombe By-Election 27 November 2003
Party		Votes	%	±%
	Liberal Democrats	756	39.0	+7.9
	Conservative	686	35.4	−2.6
	Independent	318	16.4	+8.9
	Independent	178	9.2	+4.2
Majority		70	3.6
Turnout		1,938	23.6
	Liberal Democrats gain from Conservative	Swing

Exeter St Davids and Pennsylvania By-Election 26 February 2004
Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
	Liberal Democrats	Sheila Hobden	1,330	41.3	+7.3
	Conservative	Jeffrey Coates	1,090	33.8	+3.0
	Labour	Lesley Robson	452	14.0	−13.0
	Independent	Sylvia Hardy	351	10.9	+10.9
Majority			240	7.5
Turnout			3,223	26.3
	Liberal Democrats hold		Swing

2005-2009

Yealmpton By-Election 2 March 2006
Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
	Conservative	William Mumford	1,530	49.5	+3.8
	Liberal Democrats	Keith Baldry	1,421	46.0	+3.1
	Labour	David Trigger	140	4.5	+4.5
Majority			109	3.5
Turnout			3,091	35.9
	Conservative hold		Swing

Alphington and Cowick By-Election 13 July 2006
Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
	Liberal Democrats	Vanessa Newcombe	1,265	39.3	−4.5
	Conservative	Margaret Baldwin	1,211	37.6	+17.8
	Labour	Allan Hart	568	17.7	−8.7
	Green	Andrew Bell	174	5.4	+0.8
Majority			54	1.7
Turnout			3,218	30.0
	Liberal Democrats hold		Swing

Exminster and Kenton By-Election 27 November 2008^[19]^[20]
Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
	Liberal Democrats	Alan Connett	1,969	62.5	+12.1
	Conservative	Francine Tullis	1,182	37.5	+0.4
Majority			787	25.0
Turnout			3,151	42.9
	Liberal Democrats hold		Swing

2013-2017

Yealmpton by-election 22 May 2014^[21]
Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
	Conservative	Richard Hosking	2,493	57.9	+6.8
	Liberal Democrats	Brian Blake	1,028	23.9	+6.2
	Labour	David Trigger	706	16.4	+16.4
Majority			1,465	34.0	+1.8
Turnout			4,307	47.6	+11.8
	Conservative hold		Swing

2017-2021

Heavitree and Whipton Barton by-election 24 October 2019^[22]
Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
	Labour	Greg Sheldon	1032	31.9	−19%
	Conservative	John Harvey	992	30.7	−1%
	Liberal Democrats	Rowena Squires	576	17.8	+11%
	Green	Lizzie Woodman	563	17.4	+11%
	For Britain	Frankie Rufolo	70	2.2	+2.2%
Majority			40	1.2%	−18.7%
Turnout			3,248	30.6	−10.4%
	Labour hold		Swing

Notes

^ Liberal Party, 1973–1981; SDP–Liberal Alliance, 1985.
^ Ecology Party, 1981–1985; Green Party (UK), 1989.
^ Social Democratic Party (UK, 1988–1990), 1989.
^ Boundary changes reduced the number of seats by 13.^[4]
^ The number of seats decreased by 31 due to the removal of Plymouth and Torbay.^[6]
^ Boundary changes increased the number of seats by eight.^[10]
^ Boundary changes reduced the number of seats by two.^[1]

References

^ ^a ^b "The Devon (Electoral Changes) Order 2016". legislation.gov.uk. 7 June 2016. Retrieved 30 April 2025.
^ "The Devon (City of Plymouth and Borough of Torbay)(Structural Change) Order 1996", legislation.gov.uk, The National Archives, SI 1996/1865, retrieved 29 July 2023
^ ^a ^b ^c ^d ^e Rallings, Colin; Thrasher, Michael. "Devon County Council Election Results 1973-2009" (PDF). University of Plymouth. Retrieved 30 April 2025.
^ "The County of Devon (Electoral Arrangements) Order 1981" (PDF). legislation.gov.uk. 3 December 1981. Retrieved 30 April 2025.
^ Rallings, Colin; Thrasher, Michael. "Local Elections Handbook 1993" (PDF). University of Plymouth. Retrieved 30 April 2025.
^ "The Devon (City of Plymouth and Borough of Torbay) (Structural Change) Order 1996". legislation.gov.uk. 18 July 1996. Retrieved 30 April 2025.
^ Rallings, Colin; Thrasher, Michael. "Local Elections Handbook 1997" (PDF). University of Plymouth. Retrieved 30 April 2025.
^ Rallings, Colin; Thrasher, Michael. "Local Elections Handbook 2001" (PDF). University of Plymouth. Retrieved 30 April 2025.
^ "2001 election results & analysis". Devon County Council. Retrieved 30 April 2025.
^ "The County of Devon (Electoral Changes) Order 2004". legislation.gov.uk. 28 October 2004. Retrieved 30 April 2025.
^ Rallings, Colin; Thrasher, Michael. "Local Elections Handbook 2005" (PDF). University of Plymouth. Retrieved 30 April 2025.
^ "Devon County Council Elections 2005 Results". Devon County Council. Retrieved 30 April 2025.
^ Rallings, Colin; Thrasher, Michael. "Local Elections Handbook 2009" (PDF). University of Plymouth. Retrieved 30 April 2025.
^ "Devon County Council Elections 2009 Results". Devon County Council. Retrieved 30 April 2025.
^ "Devon County Council Elections 2013 Results". Devon County Council. Retrieved 30 April 2025.
^ "2017 Election Results". Devon County Council. Retrieved 30 April 2025.
^ "Devon County Council Election Results May 2021". Devon County Council. Retrieved 30 April 2025.
^ "Devon election result". BBC News. 11 April 2025. Retrieved 5 May 2025.
^ "Local Elections Archive Project — Exminster and Kenton Division". www.andrewteale.me.uk. Retrieved 29 September 2023.
^ "Devon County Council Elections 2005" (PDF). devon.gov.uk. Archived from the original on 2 October 2011. Retrieved 29 September 2023.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: bot: original URL status unknown (link)
^ "Yealmpton by-election 22 May 2014". Devon County Council. Retrieved 28 October 2015.
^ "Heavitree and Whipton Barton by-election 24 October 2019". Exeter City Council.

External links

Devon Council

[3] Liberal Party, 1973–1981; SDP–Liberal Alliance, 1985.

[4] Ecology Party, 1981–1985; Green Party (UK), 1989.

[5] Social Democratic Party (UK, 1988–1990), 1989.

[8] Boundary changes reduced the number of seats by 13.^[4]

[11] The number of seats decreased by 31 due to the removal of Plymouth and Torbay.^[6]

[16] Boundary changes increased the number of seats by eight.^[10]

[22] Boundary changes reduced the number of seats by two.^[1]

[2016_boundaries-1] "The Devon (Electoral Changes) Order 2016". legislation.gov.uk. 7 June 2016. Retrieved 30 April 2025.

[2] "The Devon (City of Plymouth and Borough of Torbay)(Structural Change) Order 1996", legislation.gov.uk, The National Archives, SI 1996/1865, retrieved 29 July 2023

[results_handbook-6] Rallings, Colin; Thrasher, Michael. "Devon County Council Election Results 1973-2009" (PDF). University of Plymouth. Retrieved 30 April 2025.

[7] "The County of Devon (Electoral Arrangements) Order 1981" (PDF). legislation.gov.uk. 3 December 1981. Retrieved 30 April 2025.

[9] Rallings, Colin; Thrasher, Michael. "Local Elections Handbook 1993" (PDF). University of Plymouth. Retrieved 30 April 2025.

[10] "The Devon (City of Plymouth and Borough of Torbay) (Structural Change) Order 1996". legislation.gov.uk. 18 July 1996. Retrieved 30 April 2025.

[12] Rallings, Colin; Thrasher, Michael. "Local Elections Handbook 1997" (PDF). University of Plymouth. Retrieved 30 April 2025.

[13] Rallings, Colin; Thrasher, Michael. "Local Elections Handbook 2001" (PDF). University of Plymouth. Retrieved 30 April 2025.

[14] "2001 election results & analysis". Devon County Council. Retrieved 30 April 2025.

[15] "The County of Devon (Electoral Changes) Order 2004". legislation.gov.uk. 28 October 2004. Retrieved 30 April 2025.

[17] Rallings, Colin; Thrasher, Michael. "Local Elections Handbook 2005" (PDF). University of Plymouth. Retrieved 30 April 2025.

[18] "Devon County Council Elections 2005 Results". Devon County Council. Retrieved 30 April 2025.

[19] Rallings, Colin; Thrasher, Michael. "Local Elections Handbook 2009" (PDF). University of Plymouth. Retrieved 30 April 2025.

[20] "Devon County Council Elections 2009 Results". Devon County Council. Retrieved 30 April 2025.

[21] "Devon County Council Elections 2013 Results". Devon County Council. Retrieved 30 April 2025.

[23] "2017 Election Results". Devon County Council. Retrieved 30 April 2025.

[24] "Devon County Council Election Results May 2021". Devon County Council. Retrieved 30 April 2025.

[25] "Devon election result". BBC News. 11 April 2025. Retrieved 5 May 2025.

[26] "Local Elections Archive Project — Exminster and Kenton Division". www.andrewteale.me.uk. Retrieved 29 September 2023.

[27] "Devon County Council Elections 2005" (PDF). devon.gov.uk. Archived from the original on 2 October 2011. Retrieved 29 September 2023.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: bot: original URL status unknown (link)

[28] "Yealmpton by-election 22 May 2014". Devon County Council. Retrieved 28 October 2015.

[29] "Heavitree and Whipton Barton by-election 24 October 2019". Exeter City Council.

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v t e Council elections in Devon
Devon County Council	1889 1892 1895 1898 1901 1904 1907 1910 1913 1919 1922 1925 1928 1931 1934 1937 1946 1949 1952 1955 1958 1961 1964 1967 1970 1973 1977 1981 1985 1989 1993 1997 2001 2005 2009 2013 2017 2021 2025
East Devon District Council	1973 1976 1979 1980 1982 1983 1984 1986 1987 1991 1995 1999 2003 2007 2011 2015 2019 2023
Exeter City Council	1973 1976 1979 1983 1984 1986 1987 1988 1990 1991 1992 1994 1995 1996 1998 1999 2000 2002 2003 2004 2006 2007 2008 2010 2011 2012 2014 2015 2016 2018 2019 2021 2022 2023 2024
Mid Devon District Council	1973 1976 1979 1983 1987 1991 1995 1999 2003 2007 2011 2015 2019 2023
North Devon District Council	1973 1976 1979 1983 1987 1991 1995 1999 2003 2007 2011 2015 2019 2023
Plymouth City Council	1973 1976 1979 1983 1987 1991 1995 1997 2000 2003 2004 2006 2007 2008 2010 2011 2012 2014 2015 2016 2018 2019 2021 2022 2023 2024
South Hams District Council	1973 1976 1979 1983 1987 1991 1995 1999 2003 2007 2011 2015 2019 2023
Teignbridge District Council	1973 1976 1979 1983 1987 1991 1995 1999 2003 2007 2011 2015 2019 2023
Torbay Council	1973 1976 1979 1983 1984 1986 1987 1988 1990 1991 1995 1997 2000 2003 2007 2011 2015 2019 2023
Torridge District Council	1973 1976 1979 1983 1987 1991 1995 1999 2003 2007 2011 2015 2019 2023
West Devon Borough Council	1973 1976 1979 1983 1987 1991 1995 1999 2003 2007 2011 2015 2019 2023
See also: Wards Boundary changes

v t e English non-metropolitan county council elections
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^aUnitary authorities referred to as county councils