Constituency Information
When I was told that the Devonport seat was becoming vacant in 2005 I knew that I wanted to put my name forward for consideration. My knowledge of Plymouth was based on the stops I had made there on family holidays, either in Devon or on route via the ferry to Plymouth, when I was much younger, and on my time as an adviser to a local government minister. Visits during the holiday period whetted my appetite
for the area because it is quite spectacular. I’ve always felt that Plymouth is the Sydney of the South West. It has a magnificent natural harbour, views from Plymouth Hoe, the moors behind the city and the lively atmosphere along the waterfront which, when I first visited, used to house the fishmarket and a variety of cafes and restaurants. There is also THE bridge – the Royal Albert Bridge over the Tamar was one of Isambard Kingdom Brunel’s greatest works. There are very few places in the UK where you leave the office at 5.30pm and by 6pm can be on a beach, walking on Dartmoor or enjoying a glass of wine by the harbour.
There is a real forward vision for this city. Plymouth plans to increase its population by 30,000 over the next 20 years, and by doing so attract new businesses which will add to, and enhance, the reputation we already have in medical and marine science. The cultural and media related industries are also growing strongly, and can only get stronger. Plymouth is a city with something for everyone, and I am extremely honoured to be one of its representatives in Parliament.
Information on Plymouth Devonport
The constituency of Plymouth Devonport has an electorate of 74,057. It is made up of the communities in the north and west of Plymouth, taking in the electoral wards of Budshead, Devonport (partially), Eggbuckland, Ham (partially), Honicknowle, Moor View, St Budeaux and Southway. At the next election the seat will be renamed Plymouth Moor View, and Devonport Ward will move into the new seat of Plymouth Sutton and Devonport.
The constituency has a history of being represented by prominent Members of Parliament, with past members including former Liberal Cabinet Minister Leslie Hore-Belisha, former Cabinet Minister and Labour Party Leader Michael Foot, and former Cabinet Minister and SDP Leader David Owen.
The constituency has for many years had a progressive leaning, with no Tory representative since 1970. Since then, it has mostly been served by Labour MPs.
The constituency is mostly made up of housing estates in the northern part of Plymouth. Traditionally deprived, the constituency has seen some of the most dramatic drops in unemployment in the last 10 years. Economic regeneration projects in estates in Devonport, Barne Barton, North Prospect, Whitleigh, Ernesettle and Southway have seen improvements in the living standards of residents, but health, employment and education indicators are still below the national average.
Prominent sites like Devonport Royal Naval Base, the Tamar Bridge and Brunel’s Railway Bridge, Derriford Hospital, Plymouth City Airport and Crownhill Fort are all within the constituency boundaries.
Major employers are DML (Dockyard), Wrigley’s Factory, BAE Systems and Derriford Hospital.
Members of Parliament:
Leslie Hore-Belisha (Liberal) 1923-1945
Michael Foot (Labour) 1945-1955
Dame Joan Vickers (Conservative) 1955-1970
Dr David Owen (Labour, later SDP) 1970-1992
David Jamieson (Labour) 1992-2005
Alison Seabeck (Labour) 2005-present