South Devon, formerly known as the Southern Division of Devon, is a parliamentary constituency in the county of Devon in England. From 1832 to 1885 it returned two Knights of the Shire to the House of Commons of the Parliament of the United Kingdom, elected by the bloc vote system. Further to the completion of the 2023 Periodic Review of Westminster constituencies, the seat was re-established for the 2024 general election, where it effectively replaced the abolished Totnes constituency with minor boundary changes.

Boundaries

Historic

In 1832 the county of Devon, in south western England, was divided for Parliamentary purposes between this constituency and North Devon. In 1868 the Devon county constituencies were re-arranged into North, South and East Devon divisions. Each of these divisions returned two members of Parliament. In 1885 the three constituencies were again redrawn, so that Devon was represented by eight single member County constituencies (there were also three borough constituencies, two of which returned two members and the third one member). The county was split between the new smaller constituencies of Ashburton (alternatively the Mid Division), Barnstaple (the North-Western Division), Honiton (the Eastern Division), South Molton (the Northern Division), Tavistock (the Western Division), Tiverton (the North-Eastern Division), Torquay and Totnes (the Southern Division). The constituencies in this redistribution are normally referred to by the distinctive place name rather than the alternative compass point designation, so the South Devon division is considered to have been abolished in 1885. 1832–1868: The Hundreds of Axminster, Clyston, Colyton, Ottery St. Mary, East Budleigh, Lifton, Exminster, Teignbridge, Haytor, Coleridge, Stanborough, Ermington, Plympton, Roborough, and Tavistock, and Exeter Castle, and the parts of the hundred of Wonford that are not included in the city of Exeter. 1868–1885: The Hundreds of Black Torrington, Ermington, Lifton, Plympton, Roborough, Stanborough and Coleridge, and Tavistock.

Current

The re-established constituency is composed of the following (as they existed on 1 December 2020): It is formed from the former seat of Totnes, with only minor changes to its boundaries.

Members of Parliament

1832–1885

Since 2024

Elections

Elections in the 2020s

Elections in the 2010s

Elections in the 1880s

Garnier resigned, triggering a by-election.

Elections in the 1870s

Lopes was appointed a Civil Lord of the Admiralty, triggering a by-election.

Elections in the 1860s

Kekewich's death triggered a by-election.

Elections in the 1850s

Buller was elevated to the peerage, becoming 1st Baron Churston, triggering a by-election. Lopes' death triggered a by-election.

Elections in the 1840s

Courtenay resigned by accepting the office of Steward of the Chiltern Hundreds, triggering a by-election.

Elections in the 1830s

Russell was appointed Home Secretary, triggering a by-election.