Steve Darling is the Liberal Democrat MP for Torbay, having first been elected to parliament at the 2024 general election.

In the 2024 general election, Darling received 18,937 votes (41.1%). The Conservative candidate, Kevin Foster, received 13,588 votes (29.5%), while the Reform UK candidate, Gordon Scott, secured 8,660 votes (18.8%). Darling was duly elected with a majority of 5,349.

The Torbay constituency is located in Devon, South West England. The seat has switched between the Conservatives and Liberal Democrats since its creation ahead of the February 1974 general election.

Darling’s immediate predecessor as the MP for Torbay was Kevin Foster of the Conservative Party. Foster represented the seat from 2015 to 2024.

Political Career

Darling currently serves on the Liberal Democrat frontbench as work and pensions spokesperson. He was appointed to this role in September 2024.

Darling is also a member of the House of Commons work and pensions select committee (since October 2024) – the committee responsible for scrutinising the policies and spending of the Department for Work and Pensions and associated bodies.

Darling is listed as a member of the all-party parliamentary groups (APPGs) for defibrillators (chair) and disability.

Darling delivered his maiden speech on 16 October 2024 in a debate on the Carer’s Allowance.

In it, he said: “Torbay has been one of the wealthiest places over 100 years or so, but now we are somewhat more challenged. Oldway mansion is perhaps a prime example. It was modelled on Versailles and used as a hospital during the first world war, but it has seen better days, as has our hospital in Torquay, only 6% of which is considered standard A.

“We have had almost 700 sewage leaks in our hospital, affecting clinical services at times. I am shocked and horrified that the previous government allowed our hospital to get into that state, and I cannot believe that the new health secretary will allow such a hospital to remain on the government’s books unsorted.”

Darling also referred to his guide dog, Jennie, in his maiden speech.

He stated: “She is doing very well and living the true life of a parliamentarian: turning up in the chamber and having a good sleep.

“She is also being a parliamentarian by making sure that she receives lots of love from wherever she can get it throughout the estate. The customer service that we have received stands in stark contrast to that in ‘Fawlty Towers’, for which Torquay is famous, but members can rest assured that if they do choose to visit the English riviera, the service they receive will be of high quality.”

Before entering parliament, Darling had a long career in local government. He has served as a Liberal Democrat councillor on Torbay Council since 1995. He served as leader of Torbay Council from 2019 until 2023.

Political views

The Liberal Democrats (or Lib Dems) are a liberal political party, occupying the centre to centre-left ground in British politics.

The preamble to the Lib Dem constitution begins: “The Liberal Democrats exist to build and safeguard a fair, free and open society, in which we seek to balance the fundamental values of liberty, equality and community, and in which no-one shall be enslaved by poverty, ignorance or conformity.”

The Liberal Democrat autumn conference in 2021 ratified a policy paper entitled What Liberal Democrats Believe. The paper, an attempt to expand on the constitution’s preamble, was framed around seven “principles and values”.

The party’s core values were described as “liberty, equality, democracy, community, internationalism and environmentalism.”

Brexit and Europe

Customs union vote (2025): In December 2025, Darling voted in favour of the UK-EU Customs Union (Duty to Negotiate) Bill. The bill, introduced under the 10-minute rule procedure by Liberal Democrat Europe spokesperson Al Pinkerton, sought to mandate the government to enter into negotiations with the European Union to establish a bespoke customs union. In total, 13 Labour MPs joined the Liberal Democrats in supporting the motion, while the majority of the party abstained.

Electoral reform

Electoral reform amendment: In May 2026, Darling signed an amendment to the Representation of the People Bill, calling on the government to establish a “national commission on electoral reform”. Tabled by Alex Sobel as chair of the fair elections APPG, the amendment aimed to force a rethink of the first past the post voting system.

At the time, Sobel described FPTP as “one of the biggest examples of a broken status quo in UK politics.” He invited colleagues to join this “common sense call to take a fresh look at how parliament is elected in modern Britain.”

Proportional representation bill: In December 2024, Darling voted in favour of the Elections (Proportional Representation) Bill – introduced by Liberal Democrat frontbencher Sarah Olney under the 10-minute rule procedure. The bill sought to “introduce a system of proportional representation for parliamentary elections and for local government elections in England”.

A total of 138 MPs supported the bill – with 136 opposed. Notably, 59 Labour MPs backed Olney’s bill.

Introducing the bill, Olney told the House: “First past the post is a broken and unfair system. This summer, the Labour party won a landslide election victory, securing 63% of seats in the House of Commons in return for just 34% of the vote.

“The system leaves millions of voices unheard and creates a divisive, adversarial political climate where collaboration is discouraged and accountability is often sidestepped.”

Assisted dying

Darling voted in favour of the Terminally Ill Adults (End of Life) Bill, better known as the assisted dying bill, at second reading (November 2024). However, he went on to vote against the bill at third reading (June 2025).

Darling said he had changed his mind over the lack of safeguards in the bill.

He stated: “I think a lot of my concerns around the assisted dying bill are making sure that there’s properly-funded services so people can have proper, informed decisions.”

Darling was one of 14 MPs to oppose the bill at third reading having supported it at second reading – and one of 15 Liberal Democrats to vote against the assisted dying bill at third reading.

Social values and conscience issues

Abortion decriminalisation (2025): Darling voted in favour of a backbench amendment to the Crime and Policing Bill that sought to decriminalise abortion in England and Wales in June 2025. The amendment, which was passed by a majority of 242 votes, removed women from the threat of prosecution for ending a pregnancy at any stage. As an issue of conscience, MPs were allowed to vote according to their personal beliefs.

Before Politics

Stephen Matthew Darling was born in 1969 in Birmingham. He was adopted and grew up in Devon.

Darling later tracked down his birthmother, discovering she lived just six miles away, also in Devon.

In 2014, Darling said: “I was absolutely flabbergasted. Not only that she was living so near, but also by the number of coincidences.

“It turned out that Pam had taught at Coombe Pafford School, which is in my council ward. I also discovered my half-sister had been living in Upton Road in Torquay – a road I walk along every day to get to work.”

Darling previously worked for former Liberal Democrat MP Adrian Saunders for 18 years.

Personal Life

Darling is registered blind and uses a guide dog.

Darling has a wife, Mandy, who is also registered blind. They have two sons, George and William.

Trivia

In his 2024 maiden speech, Darling joked that his guide dog, Jennie, is planning to become “the leader of the o-paw-sition”.

Jennie has her own X (formerly Twitter) account.

Jennie has been described as the “most famous Lib Dem in parliament” (by a Liberal Democrat MP).

In September 2025, Jennie was voted as Westminster Dog of the Year 2025.

Darling responded: “This award isn’t just about Jennie – it’s about every guide dog and assistance animal helping people live independently and with dignity.”