Liberal Democrats Win Torbay Seat In The 2024 Election: Is Steve Darling Up For The Challenge?

This places Darling considerably above the Conservative candidate, Kevin Foster, who has been MP for Torbay since 2015, who received 13,588 votes. Reform UK’s candidate Gordon Scott came third, with 8,660 votes and Labour candidate Chris Wongsosaputro received just 3,276 votes, ranking lowest among the main parties. Finally, Green Party’s Charlie West received 1,420 votes and Paul Andrew Moor of the Worker’s Party of Britain received just 234 votes. 

Supporters of Steve Darling have seen him as a welcome alternative to the Conservative Party, who have been criticised for being ‘out of touch’ and prone to misconduct. He has been praised for his community-focused approach, regularly engaging with the local community and actively listening to constituents’ concerns. Darling has expressed his commitment to addressing the cost of living crisis, the strain on the NHS, and the sewage scandal, a particular cause of concern for many of Torbay’s residents. 

Darling’s predecessor, Kevin Foster, came under fire for toeing the Conservative Party line instead of standing for the best interests of his constituents, voting against the government just three times in his entire career as MP of Torbay. Now, with a considerable win under his belt, Darling is now tasked with proving his worth to Torbay residents. 

But Darling is no stranger to controversy himself - he was voted out of Torbay council after wasting £400,000 on pedestrianising the Golden Mile in Paignton, which nearly put of out business many of the local traders in the area. More recently, he approved the plan to raise the sea wall, which would remove the car parking on the seafront in both Paignton and Preston, and approved the demolition of car parks in the town centre, leaving few areas where tourists are able to park. This could have a significant impact on the amount of tourism to the area, which could greatly affect Torbay businesses, which depend on tourism to survive. 

Given these arguably ill-thought-out plans, Steve Darling may still have a long way to go to earn the support of many of Torbay’s residents. Darling must pay careful consideration as to how he will support business growth and development in Torbay. This includes encouraging tourism to the area by ensuring that it is reasonably practicable for tourists to visit, providing parking and access to local businesses. He will also need to be able to manage funds effectively in order to rejuvenate the high streets of Torquay, Paignton and Brixham, making them an appealing attraction for visitors to the area. 

Torbay has the potential for a thriving tourism trade if the council succeeds in capitalising on its natural beauty. Torbay’s reputation as an area of natural beauty has brought tourism to the area for hundreds of years, and this historic legacy must preserved for future generations. In spite of the financial crash, Torbay’s local business owners are both innovative and resilient, maintaining a close-knit local business community that makes them a true asset to the area. 

But achieving and maintaining growth requires careful management and support for local business owners. Without supporting local businesses effectively, the area may continue to sink further into poverty, with the local job market severely affected by the aftershocks of the Coronavirus pandemic. Only by encouraging tourism to the area, and the tourist trade that comes with it, will Darling achieve the funds necessary to make the most of Torbay’s assets.

So is Steve Darling up for the challenge? Only time will tell.