Devon Central
Notional 2005 Results:
Conservative: 19843 (42.4%)
Liberal Democrat: 18099 (38.7%)
Labour: 5020 (10.7%)
Other: 3858 (8.2%)
Majority: 1744 (3.7%)
New Seat: The extra Devon seat takes areas from Teignbridge, Tiverton and Honiton, Devon West and Torridge, Totnes and Devon North. The provisional proposals had included the Western suburbs of Exeter, but these were removed in the revised recommendations.
Profile: A large rural seat in the centre of Devon, includes small towns such as Bovey Tracey, Crediton, Okehampton, Chudleigh, Ashburton and Buckfastleigh. To the West the constituency includes part of Dartmoor.
Candidates:
Mel Stride (Conservative) Educated at Portsmouth Grammar School and Oxford University. Entrepreneur.
Sally Morgan (Liberal Democrat). Former primary school teacher. Teignbridge district councillor and Devon county councillor.
Digby Trout(Labour)
2001 Census Demographics
Total 2001 Population: 81858
Male: 48.5%
Female: 51.5%
Under 18: 21.4%
Over 60: 25.7%
Born outside UK: 3.9%
White: 77.3%
Mixed: 0.3%
Other: 0.2%
Christian: 74.6%
Full time students: 1.8%
Graduates 16-74: 21.1%
No Qualifications 16-74: 26.3%
Owner-Occupied: 75%
Social Housing: 10.1% (Council: 7.2%, Housing Ass.: 2.9%)
Privately Rented: 10.9%
Homes without central heating and/or private bathroom: 15.2%
Tim yes incumbency is a factor though there was no incumbency effect against LibDem MPs in Hants , Sussex or Essex so the easterly improvement is independen of this , True we seem to be getting a bit off topic on this thread .