← Torridge (all cycles) · 1 May 2025 cohort
Torridge 2025
Local elections held 1 May 2025.
How to read this page
Each race below shows the share of valid ballots the marginal elected candidate actually won, and compares it to the proportional quota: the share that would be needed to be guaranteed that seat under any proportional voting method (1 seats + 1). For a 1-seat ward the quota is 50%; for 2 seats, 33.3%; for 3 seats, 25%.
Where the actual winning share fell below the quota, we show the gap as points under par — the editorial indictment. Above-par results are just majority mandates and pass without comment. The voting method is the subject of every observation here. Named candidates appear as the public election record requires; the cause being audited is the voting method, not the individuals. See the methodology page for derivations.
If votes were counted by party
Across the 5 wards in this cycle, parties received the vote totals below. The proportional column shows what each party would have won if the 5 seats had been allocated to those vote totals in proportion (how, with caveats). The Δ column is the actual seat count minus the proportional seat count — positive numbers are parties First-Past-the-Post over-represented in this council, negative are parties it under-represented.
| Party | Votes | Vote % | Seats won | % of seats | Proportional seats | Proportional % | Δ |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Liberal Democrats | 6,244 | 31.8% | 1 | 20.0% | 2 | 40.0% | -1 |
| Reform UK | 6,240 | 31.7% | 3 | 60.0% | 2 | 40.0% | +1 |
| Conservative and Unionist Party | 4,778 | 24.3% | 1 | 20.0% | 1 | 20.0% | 0 |
| Green Party | 1,721 | 8.8% | 0 | 0.0% | 0 | 0.0% | 0 |
| Labour Party | 572 | 2.9% | 0 | 0.0% | 0 | 0.0% | 0 |
| Labour and Co-operative Party | 107 | 0.5% | 0 | 0.0% | 0 | 0.0% | 0 |
| Total | 19,662 | 100.0% | 5 | 100.0% | 5 | 100.0% | 0 |
Vote share vs seats won
The top bar is each party's share of votes cast in this council. Below, one square per seat, coloured by the party that won it — first the actual First-Past-the-Post result, then what a proportional method would have produced from the same vote totals. Divergence between the bar and the actual grid is the indictment of the method.
Wards in this council
Sorted with the largest gap below the quota first. Click any ward to jump to its full result.
- Holsworthy Rural · 1 seat · won at 35.1% · +14.9 pts below quota
- Bideford East · 1 seat · won at 35.8% · +14.2 pts below quota
- Bideford West & Hartland · 1 seat · won at 36.9% · +13.1 pts below quota
- Northam · 1 seat · won at 38.8% · +11.2 pts below quota
- Torrington Rural · 1 seat · won at 46.7% · +3.3 pts below quota
Race results
Holsworthy Rural · single-seat
Marginal winner 35.1% Proportional quota 50.0% Difference +14.9 pts below quota Valid ballots 4,993
| Rank | Candidate | Party | Votes | Share | Elected |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lynne Phyllis Rowsell | Reform UK | 1,753 | 35.1% | Elected |
| 2 | Nigel John Evan Kenneally | Liberal Democrats | 1,665 | 33.3% | |
| 3 | Stephen Ralph Gibson | Conservative and Unionist Party | 1,099 | 22.0% | |
| 4 | Tracey Beresford | Green Party | 363 | 7.3% | |
| 5 | Catriona Kennard | Labour Party | 113 | 2.3% |
Bideford East · single-seat
Marginal winner 35.8% Proportional quota 50.0% Difference +14.2 pts below quota Valid ballots 3,116
| Rank | Candidate | Party | Votes | Share | Elected |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Mark Andrew Barry | Reform UK | 1,117 | 35.8% | Elected |
| 2 | Linda Joan Hellyer | Conservative and Unionist Party | 637 | 20.4% | |
| 3 | Huw Thomas | Green Party | 620 | 19.9% | |
| 4 | Rachel Anne Clarke | Liberal Democrats | 559 | 17.9% | |
| 5 | Zoe Moore | Labour Party | 183 | 5.9% |
Bideford West & Hartland · single-seat
Marginal winner 36.9% Proportional quota 50.0% Difference +13.1 pts below quota Valid ballots 2,921
| Rank | Candidate | Party | Votes | Share | Elected |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Robin Julian | Reform UK | 1,079 | 36.9% | Elected |
| 2 | Claire Louise Davey-Potts | Liberal Democrats | 973 | 33.3% | |
| 3 | Jeff Wilton-Love | Conservative and Unionist Party | 519 | 17.8% | |
| 4 | Simon Mathers | Green Party | 274 | 9.4% | |
| 5 | Sebastian Racisz | Labour Party | 76 | 2.6% |
Northam · single-seat
Marginal winner 38.8% Proportional quota 50.0% Difference +11.2 pts below quota Valid ballots 3,863
| Rank | Candidate | Party | Votes | Share | Elected |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Dermot McGeough | Conservative and Unionist Party | 1,500 | 38.8% | Elected |
| 2 | Derek Sargent | Reform UK | 1,069 | 27.7% | |
| 3 | Kerry Samantha O'Rourke | Liberal Democrats | 819 | 21.2% | |
| 4 | Keith Funnell | Green Party | 275 | 7.1% | |
| 5 | Emma Louise Robbins | Labour Party | 200 | 5.2% |
Torrington Rural · single-seat
Marginal winner 46.7% Proportional quota 50.0% Difference +3.3 pts below quota Valid ballots 4,769
| Rank | Candidate | Party | Votes | Share | Elected |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Cheryl Cottle-Hunkin | Liberal Democrats | 2,228 | 46.7% | Elected |
| 2 | Liana Alexander Raye | Reform UK | 1,222 | 25.6% | |
| 3 | Thomas John Elliott | Conservative and Unionist Party | 1,023 | 21.5% | |
| 4 | Colin Jones | Green Party | 189 | 4.0% | |
| 5 | Deborah Charlotte Darling | Labour and Co-operative Party | 107 | 2.2% |