Devon County Council elections

Local government elections in Devon, England

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

[edit]

Year  | Conservative | Liberal Democrats[a] | Labour | Reform | Green[b] | Liberal | UKIP | NDM  | SDP[c] | Independent | Council control
after election

|
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|  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
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

[edit]

* 2005 results map

* 2009 results map

* 2013 results map

* 2017 results map

* 2021 results map

* 2025 results map

## By-election results

[edit]

### 1993-1997

[edit]

Plymstock Radford By-Election 7 November 1996  Party  | Candidate  | 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

[edit]

Honickknowle By-Election 7 August 1997  Party  | Candidate  | 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  | Candidate  | 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  | Candidate  | 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  | Candidate  | 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  | Candidate  | 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

[edit]

Ilfracombe By-Election 27 November 2003  Party  | Candidate  | 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

[edit]

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

[edit]

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

[edit]

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

[edit]

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

## References

[edit]

1. ^ a b "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
3. ^ a b c d e Rallings, Colin; Thrasher, Michael. "Devon County Council Election Results 1973-2009" (PDF). University of Plymouth. Retrieved 30 April 2025.
4. ^ "The County of Devon (Electoral Arrangements) Order 1981" (PDF). legislation.gov.uk. 3 December 1981. Retrieved 30 April 2025.
5. ^ Rallings, Colin; Thrasher, Michael. "Local Elections Handbook 1993" (PDF). University of Plymouth. Retrieved 30 April 2025.
6. ^ "The Devon (City of Plymouth and Borough of Torbay) (Structural Change) Order 1996". legislation.gov.uk. 18 July 1996. Retrieved 30 April 2025.
7. ^ Rallings, Colin; Thrasher, Michael. "Local Elections Handbook 1997" (PDF). University of Plymouth. Retrieved 30 April 2025.
8. ^ Rallings, Colin; Thrasher, Michael. "Local Elections Handbook 2001" (PDF). University of Plymouth. Retrieved 30 April 2025.
9. ^ "2001 election results & analysis". Devon County Council. Retrieved 30 April 2025.
10. ^ "The County of Devon (Electoral Changes) Order 2004". legislation.gov.uk. 28 October 2004. Retrieved 30 April 2025.
11. ^ Rallings, Colin; Thrasher, Michael. "Local Elections Handbook 2005" (PDF). University of Plymouth. Retrieved 30 April 2025.
12. ^ "Devon County Council Elections 2005 Results". Devon County Council. Retrieved 30 April 2025.
13. ^ Rallings, Colin; Thrasher, Michael. "Local Elections Handbook 2009" (PDF). University of Plymouth. Retrieved 30 April 2025.
14. ^ "Devon County Council Elections 2009 Results". Devon County Council. Retrieved 30 April 2025.
15. ^ "Devon County Council Elections 2013 Results". Devon County Council. Retrieved 30 April 2025.
16. ^ "2017 Election Results". Devon County Council. Retrieved 30 April 2025.
17. ^ "Devon County Council Election Results May 2021". Devon County Council. Retrieved 30 April 2025.
18. ^ "Devon election result". BBC News. 11 April 2025. Retrieved 5 May 2025.
19. ^ "Local Elections Archive Project — Exminster and Kenton Division". www.andrewteale.me.uk. Retrieved 29 September 2023.
20. ^ "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)
21. ^ "Yealmpton by-election 22 May 2014". Devon County Council. Retrieved 28 October 2015.
22. ^ "Heavitree and Whipton Barton by-election 24 October 2019". Exeter City Council.

## External links

[edit]

* Devon Council

* v
* t
* e

Council elections in Devon

Devon County Council|

* 1889
* 1892
* 1895
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* 1901
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East Devon District Council|

* 1973
* 1976
* 1979
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* 1986
* 1987
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* 2007
* 2011
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Exeter City Council|

* 1973
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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
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* 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
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* 2021
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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

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