View source for Torquay (UK Parliament constituency)

{{Short description|Parliamentary constituency in the United Kingdom, 1885–1974}}
{{EngvarB|date=October 2013}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=January 2024}}
{{Infobox UK constituency
|name       = Torquay
|type       = County
|parliament = uk
|image=<!-- Deleted image removed: [[File:1885-1918 Torquay.png|250px|]] -->
|caption=Torquay in Devon, 1885-1918
|year       = 1885
|abolished  = February 1974
|elects_howmany = one
|previous   = [[East Devon (UK Parliament constituency)|East Devon]]
|next       = [[Torbay (UK Parliament constituency)|Torbay]]
}}
'''Torquay''' was a [[county constituency]] in Devon, [[South West England]], which returned one Member of Parliament to the [[British House of Commons|House of Commons]] of the [[Parliament of the United Kingdom]].
It was created for the [[1885 United Kingdom general election|1885 general election]] and abolished for the [[February 1974 United Kingdom general election|February 1974 general election]]. The area it represented became part of the [[Torbay (UK Parliament constituency)|Torbay]] constituency.
== Boundaries ==
'''1885–1918''': The Borough of Dartmouth and the Sessional Division of Paignton.
'''1918–1950''': The Boroughs of Dartmouth and Torquay, the Urban Districts of Brixham and Paignton, the parishes of Churston Ferrers, Kingswear, Marldon, and Stoke Gabriel in the Rural District of Totnes, and the parishes of Cockington and Stokeinteignhead in the Rural District of Newton Abbot.
'''1950–1974''': The Borough of Torquay, the Urban Districts of Brixham and Paignton, and the parishes of Churston Ferrers and Kingswear in the Rural District of Totnes.
== Members of Parliament ==
{| class="wikitable"
|-
!colspan="2"|Election!!Member!!Party
|-
|style="color:inherit;background-color: {{party color|Liberal Party (UK)}}" |
| [[1885 United Kingdom general election|1885]]
| [[Lewis McIver]]
| [[Liberal Party (UK)|Liberal]]
|-
|style="color:inherit;background-color: {{party color|Conservative Party (UK)}}" |
| [[1886 United Kingdom general election|1886]]
| [[Richard Mallock]]
| [[Conservative Party (UK)|Conservative]]
|-
|style="color:inherit;background-color: {{party color|Conservative Party (UK)}}" |
| [[1895 United Kingdom general election|1895]]
| [[Arthur Philpotts]]
| [[Conservative Party (UK)|Conservative]]
|-
|style="color:inherit;background-color: {{party color|Liberal Party (UK)}}" |
| [[1900 United Kingdom general election|1900]]
| [[Sir Francis Layland-Barratt, 1st Baronet|Francis Layland-Barratt]]
| [[Liberal Party (UK)|Liberal]]
|-
|style="color:inherit;background-color: {{party color|Liberal Unionist Party (UK)}}" |
| [[December 1910 United Kingdom general election|Dec 1910]]
|rowspan="4" | [[Sir Charles Forbes-Leith, 1st Baronet|Charles Burn]]
| [[Liberal Unionist Party|Liberal Unionist]]
|-
|style="color:inherit;background-color: {{party color|Coalition Conservative}}" |
| ''1912''
| [[Conservative Party (UK)|Conservative Party]]
|-
|style="color:inherit;background-color: {{party color|Coalition Conservative}}" |
| [[1918 United Kingdom general election|1918]]
| [[Coalition Conservative]]
|-
|style="color:inherit;background-color: {{party color|Conservative Party (UK)}}" |
| [[1922 United Kingdom general election|1922]]
| [[Conservative Party (UK)|Conservative]]
|-
|style="color:inherit;background-color: {{party color|Liberal Party (UK)}}" |
| [[1923 United Kingdom general election|1923]]
| [[Piers Gilchrist Thompson|Piers Thompson]]
| [[Liberal Party (UK)|Liberal]]
|-
|style="color:inherit;background-color: {{party color|Conservative Party (UK)}}" |
| [[1924 United Kingdom general election|1924]]
| [[Charles Williams (Torquay MP)|Charles Williams]]
| [[Conservative Party (UK)|Conservative]]
|-
|style="color:inherit;background-color: {{party color|Conservative Party (UK)}}" |
| [[1955 Torquay by-election|1955 by-election]]
| [[Frederic Mackarness Bennett|Frederic Bennett]]
| [[Conservative Party (UK)|Conservative]]
|-
|
| [[February 1974 United Kingdom general election|Feb 1974]]
|colspan="2"| ''constituency abolished''
|}
== Election results ==
=== Elections in the 1880s ===
{{Election box begin | title=[[1885 United Kingdom general election|General election 1885]]: Torquay<ref name="The Liberal Year Book, 1908">The Liberal Year Book, 1908</ref><ref name="craig1885"/>
}}
{{Election box winning candidate with party link|
|party = Liberal Party (UK)
|candidate = [[Lewis McIver]]
|votes = 3,509
|percentage = 52.6
|change =
}}
{{Election box candidate with party link|
|party = Conservative Party (UK)
|candidate = Richard Mallock
|votes =3,161
|percentage = 47.4
|change =
}}
{{Election box majority|
|votes = 348
|percentage = 5.2
|change =
}}
{{Election box turnout|
|votes = 6,670
|percentage = 86.2
|change =
}}
{{Election box registered electors|
|reg. electors = 7,738
}}
{{Election box new seat win|
|winner     = Liberal Party (UK)
|swing      = ''N/A''
}}
{{Election box end}}
{{Election box begin | title=[[1886 United Kingdom general election|General election 1886]]: Torquay<ref name="The Liberal Year Book, 1908">The Liberal Year Book, 1908</ref><ref name="craig1885"/>
}}
{{Election box winning candidate with party link|
|party = Conservative Party (UK)
|candidate = Richard Mallock
|votes =3,135
|percentage = 50.6
|change = +3.2
}}
{{Election box candidate with party link|
|party = Liberal Unionist Party
|candidate = [[Lewis McIver]]
|votes = 3,055
|percentage = 49.4
|change = &minus;3.2
}}
{{Election box majority|
|votes = 80
|percentage = 1.2
|change = ''N/A''
}}
{{Election box turnout|
|votes = 6,190
|percentage = 80.0
|change = &minus;6.2
}}
{{Election box registered electors|
|reg. electors = 7,738
}}
{{Election box gain with party link|
|winner     = Conservative Party (UK)
|loser      = Liberal Party (UK)
|swing      = +3.2
}}
{{Election box end}}
=== Elections in the 1890s ===
{{Election box begin | title=[[1892 United Kingdom general election|General election 1892]]: Torquay<ref name="The Liberal Year Book, 1908">The Liberal Year Book, 1908</ref><ref name="craig1885">{{cite book|editor1-last=Craig|editor1-first=FWS|title=British Parliamentary Election Results: 1885-1918|date=1974|publisher=Macmillan Press|location=London|isbn=9781349022984}}</ref>
}}
{{Election box winning candidate with party link|
|party = Conservative Party (UK)
|candidate = Richard Mallock
|votes =4,157
|percentage = 52.5
|change = +1.9
}}
{{Election box candidate with party link|
|party = Liberal Party (UK)
|candidate = [[Arthur Hayter, 1st Baron Haversham|Arthur Hayter]]
|votes = 3,763
|percentage = 47.5
|change = &minus;1.9
}}
{{Election box majority|
|votes = 394
|percentage = 5.0
|change = +3.8
}}
{{Election box turnout|
|votes = 7,920
|percentage = 84.2
|change = +4.2
}}
{{Election box registered electors|
|reg. electors = 9,404
}}
{{Election box hold with party link|
|winner     = Conservative Party (UK)
|swing      = +1.9
}}
{{Election box end}}
{{Election box begin | title=[[1895 United Kingdom general election|General election 1895]]: Torquay<ref name="ReferenceA">Debrett's House of Commons & Judicial Bench, 1901</ref><ref name="craig1885"/>
}}
{{Election box winning candidate with party link|
|party = Conservative Party (UK)
|candidate = [[Arthur Philpotts]]
|votes =4,205
|percentage = 51.1
|change = &minus;1.4
}}
{{Election box candidate with party link|
|party = Liberal Party (UK)
|candidate = [[Sir Francis Layland-Barratt, 1st Baronet|Francis Layland-Barratt]]
|votes = 4,030
|percentage = 48.9
|change = +1.4
}}
{{Election box majority|
|votes = 175
|percentage = 2.2
|change = &minus;2.8
}}
{{Election box turnout|
|votes = 8,235
|percentage = 82.0
|change = &minus;2.2
}}
{{Election box registered electors|
|reg. electors = 10,039
}}
{{Election box hold with party link|
|winner     = Conservative Party (UK)
|swing      = &minus;1.4
}}
{{Election box end}}
=== Elections in the 1900s ===
{{Election box begin | title=[[1900 United Kingdom general election|General election 1900]]: Torquay<ref name="ReferenceA">Debrett's House of Commons & Judicial Bench, 1901</ref><ref name="craig1885">{{cite book|editor1-last=Craig|editor1-first=FWS|title=British Parliamentary Election Results: 1885-1918|date=1974|publisher=Macmillan Press|location=London|isbn=9781349022984}}</ref>
}}
{{Election box winning candidate with party link|
|party = Liberal Party (UK)
|candidate = [[Sir Francis Layland-Barratt, 1st Baronet|Francis Layland-Barratt]]
|votes = 4,020
|percentage = 50.8
|change = +1.9
}}
{{Election box candidate with party link|
|party = Conservative Party (UK)
|candidate = James Reginald Lea Rankin
|votes =3,891
|percentage = 49.2
|change = &minus;1.9
}}
{{Election box majority|
|votes = 129
|percentage = 1.6
|change = ''N/A''
}}
{{Election box turnout|
|votes = 7,911
|percentage = 84.9
|change = +2.9
}}
{{Election box registered electors|
|reg. electors = 9,313
}}
{{Election box gain with party link|
|winner     = Liberal Party (UK)
|loser      = Conservative Party (UK)
|swing      = +1.9
}}
{{Election box end}}
[[File:Francis Layland Barratt.jpg|thumb|120px|Layland-Barratt]]
{{Election box begin | title=[[1906 United Kingdom general election|General election 1906]]: Torquay<ref name="The Liberal Year Book, 1908">The Liberal Year Book, 1908</ref><ref name="craig1885"/>
}}
{{Election box winning candidate with party link|
|party = Liberal Party (UK)
|candidate = [[Sir Francis Layland-Barratt, 1st Baronet|Francis Layland-Barratt]]
|votes = 4,856
|percentage = 52.5
|change = +1.7
}}
{{Election box candidate with party link|
|party = Conservative Party (UK)
|candidate = [[Henry Lopes, 1st Baron Roborough|Henry Lopes]]
|votes =4,396
|percentage = 47.5
|change = &minus;1.7
}}
{{Election box majority|
|votes = 460
|percentage = 5.0
|change = +3.4
}}
{{Election box turnout|
|votes = 9,252
|percentage = 89.5
|change = +4.6
}}
{{Election box registered electors|
|reg. electors = 10,343
}}
{{Election box hold with party link|
|winner     = Liberal Party (UK)
|swing      = +1.7
}}
{{Election box end}}
=== Elections in the 1910s ===
{{Election box begin |
|title=[[January 1910 United Kingdom general election|General election January 1910]]: Torquay<ref>Debrett's House of Commons & Judicial Bench, 1916</ref><ref name="craig1885">{{cite book|editor1-last=Craig|editor1-first=FWS|title=British Parliamentary Election Results: 1885-1918|date=1974|publisher=Macmillan Press|location=London|isbn=9781349022984}}</ref>
}}
{{Election box winning candidate with party link|
|party = Liberal Party (UK)
|candidate = [[Sir Francis Layland-Barratt, 1st Baronet|Francis Layland-Barratt]]
|votes = 5,104
|percentage = 50.1
|change = &minus;2.4
}}
{{Election box candidate with party link|
|party = Conservative Party (UK)
|candidate = [[Henry Lopes, 1st Baron Roborough|Henry Lopes]]
|votes =5,093
|percentage = 49.9
|change = +2.4
}}
{{Election box majority|
|votes = 11
|percentage = 0.2
|change = &minus;4.8
}}
{{Election box turnout|
|votes = 10,197
|percentage = 90.7
|change = +1.2
}}
{{Election box registered electors|
|reg. electors = 11,241
}}
{{Election box hold with party link|
|winner     = Liberal Party (UK)
|swing      = &minus;2.4
}}
{{Election box end}}
{{Election box begin | title=[[December 1910 United Kingdom general election|General election December 1910]]: Torquay<ref name="craig1885"/>
}}
{{Election box winning candidate with party link|
|party      = Liberal Unionist Party (UK)
|candidate  =[[Sir Charles Forbes-Leith, 1st Baronet|Charles Burn]]
|votes      =5,101
|percentage =50.6
|change     =+0.7
}}
{{Election box candidate with party link|
|party      = Liberal Party (UK)
|candidate  = [[Sir Francis Layland-Barratt, 1st Baronet|Francis Layland-Barratt]]
|votes      = 4,971
|percentage =49.4
|change     =&minus;0.7
}}
{{Election box majority|
|votes      =130
|percentage =1.2
|change     =''N/A''
}}
{{Election box turnout|
|votes      =10,072
|percentage =89.6
|change     =&minus;1.1
}}
{{Election box registered electors|
|reg. electors = 11,241
}}
{{Election box gain with party link|
|winner     = Liberal Unionist Party (UK)
|loser      = Liberal Party (UK)
|swing      =+0.7
}}
{{Election box end}}
'''General Election 1914–15''':
Another General Election was required to take place before the end of 1915. The political parties had been making preparations for an election to take place and by July 1914, the following candidates had been selected;
*'''Unionist''': [[Sir Charles Forbes-Leith, 1st Baronet|Charles Burn]]
*'''Liberal''': [[Sir Thomas Devereux Pile, 1st Baronet|Thomas Devereux Pile]]<ref>Western Times 11 May 1914</ref>
{{Election box begin |
|title=[[1918 United Kingdom general election|General election 1918]]: Torquay
}}
{{Election box winning candidate with party link coalition 1918|
|party      = Unionist Party (UK)
|candidate  =[[Sir Charles Forbes-Leith, 1st Baronet|Charles Burn]]
|votes  = 14,068
|percentage  = 66.2
|change  = +15.6
}}
{{Election box candidate with party link|
|party      = Labour Party (UK)
|candidate  = [[Alfred Trestrail]]
|votes  = 4,029
|percentage  = 18.9
|change  = ''New''
}}
{{Election box candidate with party link|
|party      = Liberal Party (UK)
|candidate  =Russell Cooke
|votes  = 3,173
|percentage  = 14.9
|change  =&minus;34.5
}}
{{Election box majority|
|votes  = 10,039
|percentage  = 47.3
|change  = +46.1
}}
{{Election box turnout|
|votes  =21,270
|percentage  = 65.3
|change  =&minus;24.3
}}
{{Election box hold with party link|
|winner     = Unionist Party (UK)
|swing      =+25.1
}}
{{Election box end 1918}}
=== Elections in the 1920s ===
{{Election box begin |
|title=[[1922 United Kingdom general election|General election 1922]]: Torquay
}}
{{Election box winning candidate with party link|
|party      = Unionist Party (UK)
|candidate  = [[Sir Charles Forbes-Leith, 1st Baronet|Charles Burn]]
|votes  = 14,676
|percentage  = 52.2
|change  =-14.0
}}
{{Election box candidate with party link|
|party      = Liberal Party (UK)
|candidate  = [[Piers Gilchrist Thompson|Piers Thompson]]
|votes  = 13,425
|percentage  = 47.8
|change  =+32.9
}}
{{Election box majority|
|votes  = 1,251
|percentage  = 4.4
|change  =-42.9
}}
{{Election box turnout|
|votes  = 28,101
|percentage  = 78.5
|change  =+13.2
}}
{{Election box hold with party link|
|winner     = Unionist Party (UK)
|swing      =-23.5
}}
{{Election box end}}
{{Election box begin |
|title=[[1923 United Kingdom general election|General election 1923]]: Torquay
}}
{{Election box winning candidate with party link|
|party      = Liberal Party (UK)
|candidate  = [[Piers Gilchrist Thompson|Piers Thompson]]
|votes  = 15,294
|percentage  = 50.6
|change  =+2.8
}}
{{Election box candidate with party link|
|party      = Unionist Party (UK)
|candidate  = [[Charles Williams (Torquay MP)|Charles Williams]]
|votes  = 14,922
|percentage  = 49.4
|change  =-2.8
}}
{{Election box majority|
|votes  = 372
|percentage  = 1.2
|change  = ''N/A''
}}
{{Election box turnout|
|votes  = 30,216
|percentage  = 80.0
|change  =+1.5
}}
{{Election box gain with party link|
|winner     = Liberal Party (UK)
|loser      = Unionist Party (UK)
|swing      = +2.8
}}
{{Election box end}}
{{Election box begin |
|title=[[1924 United Kingdom general election|General election 1924]]: Torquay
}}
{{Election box winning candidate with party link|
|party      = Unionist Party (UK)
|candidate  =  [[Charles Williams (Torquay MP)|Charles Williams]]
|votes  = 18,119
|percentage  = 55.2
|change  =+5.8
}}
{{Election box candidate with party link|
|party      = Liberal Party (UK)
|candidate  = [[Piers Gilchrist Thompson|Piers Thompson]]
|votes  = 11,958
|percentage  = 36.4
|change  =-14.2
}}
{{Election box candidate with party link|
|party      = Labour Party (UK)
|candidate  = [[Arthur Moyle, Baron Moyle|Arthur Moyle]]
|votes  = 2,752
|percentage  = 8.4
|change  = ''New''
}}
{{Election box majority|
|votes  = 6,161
|percentage  = 18.8
|change  = ''N/A''
}}
{{Election box turnout|
|votes  = 32,829
|percentage  = 84.4
|change  =+4.4
}}
{{Election box gain with party link|
|winner     = Unionist Party (UK)
|loser      = Liberal Party (UK)
|swing      = +10.0
}}
{{Election box end}}
{{Election box begin |
|title=[[1929 United Kingdom general election|General election 1929]]: Torquay
}}
{{Election box winning candidate with party link|
|party      = Unionist Party (UK)
|candidate  =  [[Charles Williams (Torquay MP)|Charles Williams]]
|votes  = 21,690
|percentage  = 49.7
|change  =-5.5
}}
{{Election box candidate with party link|
|party      = Liberal Party (UK)
|candidate  = [[Richard Acland]]
|votes  = 16,337
|percentage  = 37.5
|change  =+1.1
}}
{{Election box candidate with party link|
|party      = Labour Party (UK)
|candidate  = [[Hubert Medland]]
|votes  = 5,576
|percentage  = 12.8
|change  = +4.4
}}
{{Election box majority|
|votes  = 5,353
|percentage  = 12.2
|change  =-6.6
}}
{{Election box turnout|
|votes  = 43,603
|percentage  = 81.7
|change  = -2.7
}}
{{Election box hold with party link|
|winner     = Unionist Party (UK)
|swing      = -3.3
}}
{{Election box end}}
=== Elections in the 1930s ===
{{Election box begin |
|title=[[1931 United Kingdom general election|General election 1931]]: Torquay
}}
{{Election box winning candidate with party link|
|party      = Conservative Party (UK)
|candidate  =  [[Charles Williams (Torquay MP)|Charles Williams]]
|votes  = 34,690
|percentage  = 82.5
|change  = +32.8
}}
{{Election box candidate with party link|
|party      = Labour Party (UK)
|candidate  = [[Hubert Medland]]
|votes  = 7,351
|percentage  = 17.5
|change  = +4.7
}}
{{Election box majority|
|votes  = 27,339
|percentage  = 65.03
|change  = +52.8
}}
{{Election box turnout|
|votes  = 42,041
|percentage  = 74.6
|change  = -7.1
}}
{{Election box hold with party link|
|winner     = Conservative Party (UK)
|loser      = Liberal Party (UK)
|swing      =
}}
{{Election box end}}
{{Election box begin |
|title=[[1935 United Kingdom general election|General election 1935]]: Torquay
}}
{{Election box winning candidate with party link|
|party      = Conservative Party (UK)
|candidate  =  [[Charles Williams (Torquay MP)|Charles Williams]]
|votes  = 27,008
|percentage  = 63.6
|change  = -18.9
}}
{{Election box candidate with party link|
|party      = Liberal Party (UK)
|candidate  = Harry Samways
|votes  = 9,073
|percentage  = 21.4
|change  = ''New''
}}
{{Election box candidate with party link|
|party      = Labour Party (UK)
|candidate  = F Scardifield
|votes  = 6,387
|percentage  = 15.0
|change  = -2.5
}}
{{Election box majority|
|votes  = 17,935
|percentage  = 42.2
|change  = -22.8
}}
{{Election box turnout|
|votes  = 42,468
|percentage  = 71.0
|change  = -3.6
}}
{{Election box hold with party link|
|winner     = Conservative Party (UK)
|swing      =
}}
{{Election box end}}
=== Election in the 1940s ===
'''General Election 1939–40''':
Another General Election was required to take place before the end of 1940. The political parties had been making preparations for an election to take place from 1939 and by the end of this year, the following candidates had been selected;
*'''Conservative''': [[Charles Williams (Torquay MP)|Charles Williams]]
*'''Liberal''': Hugo Keene
*'''Labour''': W W Blaylock
{{Election box begin |
|title=[[1945 United Kingdom general election|General election 1945]]: Torquay
}}
{{Election box winning candidate with party link|
|party      = Conservative Party (UK)
|candidate  =   [[Charles Williams (Torquay MP)|Charles Williams]]
|votes  = 25,479
|percentage  = 48.9
|change  = -14.7
}}
{{Election box candidate with party link|
|party      = Labour Party (UK)
|candidate  = George Cornes
|votes  = 13,590
|percentage  = 26.1
|change  = +11.1
}}
{{Election box candidate with party link|
|party      = Liberal Party (UK)
|candidate  = [[Gorley Putt]]
|votes  = 13,003
|percentage  = 25.0
|change  = +3.6
}}
{{Election box majority|
|votes  = 11,889
|percentage  = 22.8
|change  = -19.4
}}
{{Election box turnout|
|votes  = 52,072
|percentage  = 71.4
|change  = +0.4
}}
{{Election box hold with party link|
|winner     = Conservative Party (UK)
|swing      =
}}
{{Election box end}}
=== Elections in the 1950s ===
{{Election box begin |
|title=[[1950 United Kingdom general election|General election 1950]]: Torquay
}}
{{Election box winning candidate with party link|
|party      = Conservative Party (UK)
|candidate  = [[Charles Williams (Torquay MP)|Charles Williams]]
|votes      = 29,153
|percentage = 53.56
|change     =
}}
{{Election box candidate with party link|
|party      = Labour Party (UK)
|candidate  = Robert Briscoe
|votes      = 14,287
|percentage = 26.25
|change     =
}}
{{Election box candidate with party link|
|party      = Liberal Party (UK)
|candidate  = [[Stuart Townend (headmaster)|Stuart Townend]]
|votes      = 10,987
|percentage = 20.19
|change     =
}}
{{Election box majority|
|votes      = 14,866
|percentage = 27.31
|change     =
}}
{{Election box turnout|
|votes      = 54,427
|percentage = 82.83
|change     =
}}
{{Election box hold with party link|
|winner     = Conservative Party (UK)
|swing      =
}}
{{Election box end}}
{{Election box begin |
|title=[[1951 United Kingdom general election|General election 1951]]: Torquay
}}
{{Election box winning candidate with party link|
|party      = Conservative Party (UK)
|candidate  = [[Charles Williams (Torquay MP)|Charles Williams]]
|votes      = 31,441
|percentage = 59.16
|change     =
}}
{{Election box candidate with party link|
|party      = Labour Party (UK)
|candidate  = Robert Briscoe
|votes      = 14,801
|percentage = 27.85
|change     =
}}
{{Election box candidate with party link|
|party      = Liberal Party (UK)
|candidate  = [[Deryck Abel]]
|votes      = 6,904
|percentage = 12.99
|change     =
}}
{{Election box majority|
|votes      = 16,640
|percentage = 31.31
|change     =
}}
{{Election box turnout|
|votes      = 53,146
|percentage = 79.97
|change     =
}}
{{Election box hold with party link|
|winner     = Conservative Party (UK)
|swing      =
}}
{{Election box end}}
{{Election box begin |
|title=[[1955 United Kingdom general election|General election 1955]]: Torquay
}}
{{Election box winning candidate with party link|
|party      = Conservative Party (UK)
|candidate  = [[Charles Williams (Torquay MP)|Charles Williams]]
|votes      = 29,777
|percentage = 60.36
|change     =
}}
{{Election box candidate with party link|
|party      = Labour Party (UK)
|candidate  = Robert Briscoe
|votes      = 12,547
|percentage = 25.43
|change     =
}}
{{Election box candidate with party link|
|party      = Liberal Party (UK)
|candidate  = [[Peter Bessell]]
|votes      = 7,012
|percentage = 14.21
|change     =
}}
{{Election box majority|
|votes      = 17,230
|percentage = 34.93
|change     =
}}
{{Election box turnout|
|votes      = 49,336
|percentage = 75.49
|change     =
}}
{{Election box hold with party link|
|winner     = Conservative Party (UK)
|swing      =
}}
{{Election box end}}
{{Election box begin | title=[[1955 Torquay by-election]]<ref>British Parliamentary Elections Results 1950-1973 by FWS Craig</ref>
}}
{{Election box winning candidate with party link|
|party      = Conservative Party (UK)
|candidate  = [[Frederic Bennett]]
|votes      = 20,964
|percentage = 50.98
|change     = -9.38
}}
{{Election box candidate with party link|
|party      = Labour Party (UK)
|candidate  = [[William Hamling]]
|votes      = 10,383
|percentage = 25.25
|change     = -0.18
}}
{{Election box candidate with party link|
|party      = Liberal Party (UK)
|candidate  = [[Peter Bessell]]
|votes      = 9,775
|percentage = 23.77
|change     = +9.56
}}
{{Election box majority|
|votes      = 10,581
|percentage = 25.73
|change     = -9.20
}}
{{Election box turnout|
|votes      = 41,122
|percentage =
|change     =
}}
{{Election box hold with party link|
|winner     = Conservative Party (UK)
|swing      =
}}
{{Election box end}}
{{Election box begin |title=[[1959 United Kingdom general election|General election 1959]]: Torquay
|
}}
{{Election box winning candidate with party link|
|party      = Conservative Party (UK)
|candidate  = [[Frederic Bennett]]
|votes      = 29,527
|percentage = 56.79
|change     =
}}
{{Election box candidate with party link|
|party      = Labour Party (UK)
|candidate  = William V Cooper
|votes      = 11,784
|percentage = 22.66
|change     =
}}
{{Election box candidate with party link|
|party      = Liberal Party (UK)
|candidate  = [[Thomas Kellock]]
|votes      = 10,685
|percentage = 20.55
|change     =
}}
{{Election box majority|
|votes      = 17,743
|percentage = 34.13
|change     =
}}
{{Election box turnout|
|votes      = 51,996
|percentage = 76.91
|change     =
}}
{{Election box hold with party link|
|winner     = Conservative Party (UK)
|swing      =
}}
{{Election box end}}
=== Elections in the 1960s ===
{{Election box begin |
|title=[[1964 United Kingdom general election|General election 1964]]: Torquay
}}
{{Election box winning candidate with party link|
|party      = Conservative Party (UK)
|candidate  = [[Frederic Bennett]]
|votes      = 28,801
|percentage = 52.38
|change     =
}}
{{Election box candidate with party link|
|party      = Liberal Party (UK)
|candidate  = [[Hugo Brunner]]
|votes      = 13,652
|percentage = 24.83
|change     =
}}
{{Election box candidate with party link|
|party      = Labour Party (UK)
|candidate  =  Thelma W Thompson
|votes      = 12,530
|percentage = 22.79
|change     =
}}
{{Election box majority|
|votes      = 15,149
|percentage = 27.55
|change     =
}}
{{Election box turnout|
|votes      = 54,983
|percentage = 75.04
|change     =
}}
{{Election box hold with party link|
|winner     = Conservative Party (UK)
|swing      =
}}
{{Election box end}}
{{Election box begin |
|title=[[1966 United Kingdom general election|General election 1966]]: Torquay
}}
{{Election box winning candidate with party link|
|party      = Conservative Party (UK)
|candidate  = [[Frederic Bennett]]
|votes      = 28,693
|percentage = 49.44
|change     =
}}
{{Election box candidate with party link|
|party      = Labour Party (UK)
|candidate  = Raymond S Dash
|votes      = 16,594
|percentage = 28.59
|change     =
}}
{{Election box candidate with party link|
|party      = Liberal Party (UK)
|candidate  = [[Hugo Brunner]]
|votes      = 12,750
|percentage = 21.97
|change     =
}}
{{Election box majority|
|votes      = 12,099
|percentage = 20.85
|change     =
}}
{{Election box turnout|
|votes      = 58,037
|percentage = 77.40
|change     =
}}
{{Election box hold with party link|
|winner     = Conservative Party (UK)
|swing      =
}}
{{Election box end}}
=== Election in the 1970s ===
{{Election box begin |
|title=[[1970 United Kingdom general election|General election 1970]]: Torquay
}}
{{Election box winning candidate with party link|
|party      = Conservative Party (UK)
|candidate  = [[Frederic Bennett]]
|votes      = 33,996
|percentage = 55.6
|change     = +6.2
}}
{{Election box candidate with party link|
|party      = Labour Party (UK)
|candidate  = Paul ST Bryers
|votes      = 15,948
|percentage = 26.1
|change     = -2.5
}}
{{Election box candidate with party link|
|party      = Liberal Party (UK)
|candidate  = Keith P. Jenkins
|votes      = 11,163
|percentage = 18.3
|change     = -3.7
}}
{{Election box majority|
|votes      = 18,048
|percentage = 29.54
|change     = +8.7
}}
{{Election box turnout|
|votes      = 61,107
|percentage = 73.72
|change     = -3.7
}}
{{Election box hold with party link|
|winner     = Conservative Party (UK)
|swing      =
}}
{{Election box end}}
==References==
{{reflist}}
* {{Rayment-hc|t|2|date=March 2012}}
* Craig, F. W. S. (1983). British parliamentary election results 1918–1949 (3 ed.). Chichester: Parliamentary Research Services. {{ISBN|0-900178-06-X}}.
{{DEFAULTSORT:Torquay (Uk Parliament Constituency)}}
[[Category:Parliamentary constituencies in Devon (historic)]]
[[Category:Constituencies of the Parliament of the United Kingdom established in 1885]]
[[Category:Constituencies of the Parliament of the United Kingdom disestablished in 1974]]
[[Category:Torquay]]