Member of Parliament for Torbay | Liberal Democrat 🔶 | For casework and policy questions email: steve.darling.mp@parliament.uk
Joined July 2013
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1,094 Photos and videos
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6 Jul 2024
It is one of the greatest honors of my life to have been elected as Torbay's MP.
Thank you.
Whether you voted for me or not, I will work tirelessly over the next 5 years for you and everyone across our Bay.
As your MP, Torbay will be at the heart of all I do.
ALT Picture of Steve Darling with the text 'Lib Dem gain' 'Torbay' 'Steve Darling MP'. With an orange to pink ombre background with the word 'Win' repeated in partially transparent text.
ALT The Torbay 2024 General Election result. Lib Dem 41%, Conservative 29.5%, Reform 18.8%, Labour 7.1%, Green 3.1%, Workers Party 0.5%.
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Arthur Hawkesworth from Combe Pafford School has been awarded Jamie Oliver's Food Educator of the year.
Arthur's work transforming the school café into a classroom that pupils look forward to attending was recognised by the awards, as well as how he has helped young people with special educational needs and disabilities build confidence.
itv.com/thismorning/articles…
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Jun 13
The deadline for an expression of interest in the new Places of Worship Renewal Fund is tomorrow, the 14th June.
The fund will focus on urgent fabric repairs and essential improvements such as heating and electrical upgrades.
You can find more guidance here: historicengland.org.uk/advic…
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Jun 13
In a week when we've seen people burnt out of their homes in Belfast due to the colour of their skin, it was life-affirming to help launch Torbay Pride 2026 on a gloriously sunny Torre Abbey Meadows with my team. One of the cornerstones of the Liberal Democrats is to create a society where nobody should be enslaved by poverty, ignorance or conformity. That's why celebrating diversity feels so right after an awful week. I hope everyone has a great day at Torbay Pride!
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Jun 13
Coastguard volunteers work hard to keep our coasts safe. The last thing they need is to see their remuneration cut.
That's why I have written to Transport Secretary Heidi Alexander, expressing concerns about the Department for Transport’s Maritime and Coastguard Agency’s plans to cut Coastguard volunteers’ remuneration.
#Coastguard
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Jun 13
Applications for the Kellogg’s Breakfast Club Awards 2026 are now open.
Breakfast clubs are a huge part of children’s lives.
If your school in Torbay runs a brilliant breakfast club, I’d strongly encourage you to apply and share the impact that your school is making for children and families.
Find out more here: kelloggs.co.uk/en_GB/our-sto…
#BreakfastClubAwards
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Jun 12
Are you a regular rail user, would you like to see improvements to the service, do you have thoughts on what can be improved?
If so, consider attending my train summit on Friday the 19th of June along with representatives from railway companies, Torbay Council, schools and other organisations.
For more details and to confirm your attendance please get in touch with steve.darling.mp@parliament.uk.
#trains #railways #Torbay #Torquay #Paignton #torbayweekly #TorbayHour #BoostTorbay #brixham #CommunityMatters #southdevon
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Jun 12
The Department for Transport's Maritime and Coastguard Agency are planning on cutting Coastguard volunteers' remuneration.
As a keen kayaker and water sports enthusiast myself, I know how exactly how vital the Coastguard and Coastguard volunteers are.
This is why I have signed the following Early Day Motion to express concerns about removing this remuneration and the effect it could have creating potentially irreversible gaps in service provision.
#Coastguard
edm.parliament.uk/early-day-…
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Jun 12
UK public toilets are rarely friendly for people who have stoma bags. Toilets can easily and cheaply be updated with a few inexpensive items.
Drosos Demetriades is running a campaign calling on the Government to set aside funds to make 25% of all UK public toilets stoma friendly. You can find out more and sign his petition here: petition.parliament.uk/petit…
I will be speaking in a debate in Parliament next week for public toilet provision for people with stoma, where I intend to speak up on this issue.
#stoma #ileostomy #ostomates
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Jun 11
Carers UK help unpaid carers with support, information and advice. I met their excellent team again this week.
In particular, we spoke about the fact that women often face shortcomings with their pension due to caring responsibilities. I am calling on the Government to do more to protect women's contributions to pensions.
#Carers #Care #CarersUK #Torbay #Torquay #Paignton #torbayweekly #TorbayHour #BoostTorbay #brixham #CommunityMatters #southdevon
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Jun 11
Independent Bookshop Week next week is a celebration of independent bookshops across the UK and aims to encourage customers to shop with their local independent. You can find your local bookstore here: booksellers.org.uk/
This week I entered a prize draw in Parliament to win book tokens for Torbay. Fingers Crossed!
#Books #Reading #Torbay #Torquay #Paignton #torbayweekly #TorbayHour #BoostTorbay #brixham #CommunityMatters #southdevon
ALT Steve Darling MP with a team member at the booksellers association
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Jun 11
Our secondary schools across Torbay do incredibly good work supporting our youngsters.
I recently caught up with Alex Newton, the Head of Spires College, to hear how they were supporting students with additional needs and more broadly the challenges they face in an underfunded education sector.
#Schools #Education #Torbay #Torquay #Paignton #torbayweekly #TorbayHour #BoostTorbay #brixham #CommunityMatters #southdevon
ALT Steve and Alex Newton in front of the sign for The Spires College
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Jun 10
10,000 seabirds and 500 seals are killed each year through incidental bycatch by fishing boats in the UK.
I attended a meeting in Parliament today with the Wildlife and Countryside Link to discuss protecting Devon's marine life. It was great to speak to Gareth Henson, Marine Policy Officer for the Angling Trust about bycatching and overfishing, this is particularly relevant with the Blue Fin Tuna fishing here in Torbay.
The Wildlife and Countryside Link are calling on the Government to deliver promised Bycatch Action Plans for all protected species threatened by bycatch.
#Animals #Fishing #Torbay #Torquay #Paignton #torbayweekly #TorbayHour #BoostTorbay #brixham #CommunityMatters #southdevon
ALT Steve Darling MP holding a sign that reads 'let's end bycatch with a picture of a bird'
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Jun 10
NHS Dentistry is failing us here in Torbay. Too many of you have told me how you struggle to get dentist appointments, and this is a sign of the broken NHS dental contract which fails to entice dentists to join the NHS.
I was shocked to hear from Health Minister Stephen Kinnock that when they came to power in 2024 the Government were met with a ÂŁ392 million underspend in NHS dentistry, because dentists were not incentivised.
That's why I am running a petition to increase the number of NHS dentistry appointments available in coastal areas and fix the broken NHS contract. Sign my petition to improve dentistry in Torbay here: torbaylibdems.org.uk/campaig…
#Dentists #Dentistry #NHS#Torbay #Torquay #Paignton #torbayweekly #TorbayHour #BoostTorbay #brixham #CommunityMatters #southdevon
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Jun 10
Tourism is vital to Torbay. I met with Rachel Farrington and Helen Hill from VisitBritain this week to discuss their upcoming 'My Coast has the Most' campaign to promote domestic tourism.
We also spoke about the impact of the tourist levy on coastal communities that rely on tourism. Our hospitality industry needs all the help in can get, especially after the damaging NIC hikes and Business Rates.
The Liberal Democrats are calling for a 5% VAT cut for hospitality venues as Ireland has slashed their VAT on hospitality from 13.5% to 9%.
#Tourism #Hospitality #Torbay #Torquay #Paignton #torbayweekly #TorbayHour #BoostTorbay #brixham #CommunityMatters #southdevon
ALT Helen Hill and Rachel Farrington from VisitBritain with Steve Darling MP in Parliament
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Bernie's Barbershop in Paignton has been nominated for the Best Team of the Year Award at the BritHair Awards 2026.
Small businesses like this are vital to our local economy, creating jobs and keeping our high streets active.
This recognition is a reflection of the hard work, consistency, and strong local support behind Bernie's Babershop.
I wish them every success as they progress to the next stage of the awards.
#HighStreets #Economy #Smallbusinesses #HairAwards #Torbay #Torquay #Paignton #torbayweekly #TorbayHour #BoostTorbay #brixham #CommunityMatters #southdevon
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Students at Shiphay Learning Academy had the opportunity to meet with a wide range of different professionals, including Merchant Naval Second Mate James pictured here, as part of their Careers Day recently.
I very much enjoyed attending and speaking to students about how they can get involved in politics.
#CareersDay #Schools #Torbay #Torquay #Paignton #torbayweekly #TorbayHour #BoostTorbay #brixham #CommunityMatters #southdevon
ALT Steve Darling MP with teacher Kim and merchant naval second mate James at Shiphay Learning Academy Careers Day
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Torbay Hospital is looking at massive job cuts, despite talk of government investment.
I spoke out in Parliament last week to highlight the importance of our Hospital and to condemn the former secretary of state for failing to intervene in the loss of Torbay's internationally recognised Integrated Care Organisation between health and social care.
I also condemned the abolition of Healthwatch as part of the new NHS Modernisation Bill and celebrated Kevin Dixon and his colleagues in Torbay, who as part of Healthwatch, investigated a failing care provider. Finally, I asked the Government how can we expect the same level of scrutiny now if they are essentially 'marking their own homework.'
#NHS #TorbayHospital #Torbay #Torquay #Paignton #torbayweekly #TorbayHour #BoostTorbay #brixham #CommunityMatters #southdevon
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Congratulations to all the winners at the Torbay Business Awards 2026.
It was great to attend this weekend to support individuals who are surviving in a challenging economic climate and actively shaping the future of Torbay.
Particular congratulations to Colin Matthews of Babbacombe Theatre who received the Lifetime Award for Contribution to Business and Jazz Hands CIC (Palace Theatre, Paignton) who won the Overall Winner Award.
Steve Holdup, known as 'Father Christmas' for his decades of work bringing festive events to Torbay, was also honoured with the Lifetime Award for Contribution to the Community. I have known and worked with Steve for many years so it was great to see him receive this award.
#Business #Torbay #Torquay #Paignton #torbayweekly #TorbayHour #BoostTorbay #brixham #CommunityMatters #southdevon
ALT Steve Darling MP at the Torbay Business Awards 2026
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Devon Partnership NHS Trust, which provides mental health services and more across Devon, are currently recruiting for a non-executive director.
Mental health is a pressing issue here in Torbay and it would be great to have someone in the role championing our area.
Or you or someone you know is interested you can find out more details at the link below.
england.nhs.uk/non-executive…
#mentalheatlh #nhs #Torbay #Torquay #Paignton #torbayweekly #TorbayHour #BoostTorbay #brixham #CommunityMatters #southdevon
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Energy bills are rising, and the Government needs to be supporting ordinary people and the most vulnerable with spiralling costs.
The Liberal Democrats have a plan to see every household receive a basic energy allowance, equivalent to 50% of average energy consumption, at a discounted rate.
This intervention would save the average household ÂŁ100 a year, and the most vulnerable would get targeted support.
The scheme would be funded by clawing back ÂŁ5 billion in unexpected windfall profits from monopoly energy network operators.
You can read more about the plan here: libdems.org.uk/news/article/…
#energy #costofliving #LiberalDemocrats
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