Steve Darling MP

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.

The Government have turned a crisis of youth unemployment into a catastrophe through their jobs tax NI hike. This week in Parliament, I asked the Government when they will reverse their jobs tax, as on Monday's Today programme the Secretary of State seemingly agreed that the massive spike in youth unemployment has occurred due to the jacked up employer NICs. I also questioned rumours in The Times of changes to disability benefits for young people, which could make them into second class citizens, as well as paying tribute to organisations which help young people in Torbay including Eat That Frog!, Doorstep Arts, South Devon College and Sound Communities. #YouthUnemployment #Employment #Torbay #Torquay #Paignton #torbayweekly #TorbayHour #BoostTorbay #brixham #CommunityMatters #southdevon

Over £8.2 million of new funding is being allocated to Torbay to support flood investment. I'm thrilled to have this funding after pressing the Government and the Environment Agency to combat the devasting impact of flooding. I will be meeting with the Environment Agency tomorrow and will report back to our communities in Torbay following this meeting. #Flooding #Environment #Torbay #Torquay #Paignton #torbayweekly #TorbayHour #BoostTorbay #brixham #CommunityMatters #southdevon

In Torbay we have outstanding fishing & hospitality industries, as well as a high-tech manufacturing cluster. Unfortunately, the disaster of the previous Government as well as the Labour NICs hike and the uncertainty of the Employment Rights Bill are damaging our small and medium sized enterprises and our micro-businesses. In Westminster this week I pushed the Government for clean energy investment and de-linking oil & gas in light of Trump's foolish war in Iran. #Business #Hospitality #Fishing #Economy

Two years on from the implementation of the XL Bully Ban, reported dog bite incidents continue to increase year on year. Along with the Dog Control Coalition, I am calling on the Government to review the Current Legislative Framework and deliver improved, breed-neutral regulation. I know how important it is to properly encourage responsible dog ownership as Jennie was attacked by an XL Bully a couple of years ago, and it took 4 people, myself included, to get the dog off her, and this is why I sponsored this important event. #Dogs #DogControlCoalition #BatterseaDogsHome #XLBullyBan

Thanks to all those who have confirmed attendance to the SEND drop-in this Friday. The event will be held between 10am and 11am, so please feel free to arrive at any time within the hour. This will help to minimise the amount of waiting and ensure a smoother process. Alongside myself, a number of staff will be supporting me, who are also well-versed in SEND and will be happy to help. If you are planning on coming, please RSVP at steve.darling.mp@parliament.uk for more details, and so we know to expect you. On the day, please bring ID with you. You may bring bags, but large ones will need to be left at the door for security reasons. I look forward to seeing you on Friday.

There were over 600,000 sewage discharges last year, many of which were illegal. All this whilst water bills are up 36%, and companies continue to pay shareholders billions. The story of the Sewage Campaign Network is the subject of the Dirty Business documentary. Alongside the Network, I am demanding that the Government revoke licenses for serial offenders and treat pollution as the crime it is with Criminal Prosecutions. #Sewage #DirtyBusiness #Water #CleanWater #Pollution #Environment #DirtyBusiness

GPs are the frontline of our NHS. Recently I had the pleasure of meeting representatives from Chilcote Practice Torquay who shared their fears over how the global sum payment (the bedrock of GP funding), which should be over £200 due to inflation, has only been increased to £128 per person per year. I raised this issue in Parliament on Monday, when I asked the Minister how he plans to bridge this gap. The Minister acknowledged that there was more they could do on this issue and claimed that GPs are at the top of their list for support. #GPs #NHS #Torbay #Torquay #Paignton #torbayweekly #TorbayHour #BoostTorbay #brixham #CommunityMatters #southdevon

To help mark World Young Rheumatic Disease Day on 18th March, I’m supporting @arthritisukorg in helping raise awareness that children and young people can also live with arthritis and that you are never too young for arthritis. I know this only too well, as my wife was impacted by this from the age of 5. #WORDDay2026

National Grid Electricity Distribution’s Community Matters Fund is offering grants of up to £5,000 to help charities and community groups support people into work and build future skills. Find out more and apply: 👉 localgiving.org/community-matt… @gridcustomersuk #CommunityMattersFund

1 in 2 of us will face a debt-related challenge at some point in our lives. Debt can happen to anyone - and no one should face it alone. Debt Awareness Week (16–22 March) is a reminder that support is always within reach. If you’re struggling financially, StepChange Debt Charity can help. Visit stepchange.org/daw2026 #daw2026 #debtawarenessweek #debt #debtadvice

The National Grid depot near King George V Playing Fields in Torquay is currently being refurbished. I spoke with Jacob Wallace from the National Grid this weekend to discuss how the Government can be supporting schemes for connection to the grid for clean energy projects. I will be pressing the Government to prioritise schemes that support significant community infrastructure such as hospitals and waste-water treatment works. #CleanEnergy #NationalGrid #Torquay #Hospitals #Sewage

Too often, households in communities like Torbay end up paying more for essential services. Around 25% of households across Torbay experience the poverty premium (the extra cost people in poverty pay for essentials). It costs them each around £464 a year, a large figure for people living on tight incomes. I have consistently spoken in Parliament about financial inclusion, highlighting issues such as a lack of accessible banking options. I also got to meet with Laura Aznar Herranz from Fair by Design recently to discuss these issues. I will be working with Laura to see how we can challenge the Government to reduce the cost of living for some of the poorest families in Torbay. #Poverty #Torbay #Torquay #Paignton #torbayweekly #TorbayHour #BoostTorbay #brixham #CommunityMatters #southdevon @ FairByDesign

Liberal Democrats have been demanding full humanitarian access to Gaza, as well as a UN-led peacebuilding and reconstruction process which respects the right of Palestinians to self-govern. I have raised the issue of violence against Palestinians in Parliament before, and I know that this issue concerns residents in Torbay as I frequently receive emails on the topic. I met with Liberal Democrat friends of Palestine today to discuss how important it is to continue speaking out for those who are suffering in Palestine and in Israel. #Gaza #Palestine #Israel #Torbay

Councillors should be there to listen to people and solve their problems. I have been a Councillor in Torbay for more than 30 years because I care deeply about our area and our community. Yesterday I spoke on a panel on Local Government to discuss my experiences of being a Councillor, and how important it is for MPs to be deeply connected to the area they represent and to serve those in their community. #LibDemConference2026 #Councils #Torbay #Torquay #Paignton #torbayweekly #TorbayHour #BoostTorbay #brixham #CommunityMatters #southdevon

Millions of unpaid carers across the country provide invaluable support to those who need it. I met with Andy McGowan at the Carers Trust today to discuss the Carers Covenant. I look forward to holding the Government to account as to how they can help champion carers, and make sure they are supported in education when they do so much to support others. #Carers #Care @CarersTrust

Growing our economy is mission critical. Youth Unemployment is at 16% at the moment, which is the highest it has been in 10 years. The Liberal Democrats have some great ideas for growth, which I have been promoting at our spring conference (such as on the Economy and Business panel), including saving our high streets with a 5% VAT cut on hospitality, and plans for a dedicated National Crime Agency team to crack down on shoplifters. #highstreets #shoplifters #crime #hospitality #economy #growth #unemployment #employment

Jennie and I have a new Instagram account! Follow stevedarlingmp.and.jennie for more updates on my work (and Jennie's work).

Cavanna Homes apprentice and Torbay resident, Ellie Mason, was in Westminster yesterday at the Home Builders Federation (HBF)'s annual skills parliamentary drop in reception. It was a pleasure to speak with her about her work at Cavanna and to celebrate the work they do in building new homes across Torbay. #Homes #Homebuilding #Torbay #Torquay #Paignton #torbayweekly #TorbayHour #BoostTorbay #brixham #CommunityMatters #southdevon

Food banks in the Trussell Trust community provided over 2.6 million emergency food parcels last year, which is 45% higher than the number delivered in the pre-pandemic year of 2019. I met with those at Trussell Trust, and with those who had used food banks, to discuss how we can be reducing levels of entrenched hardship. I have called, and I will continue to call on the Government to review Local Housing Allowance with the aim of making the lowest third of local rental properties affordable, as well as to consider linking the benefit to rental market inflation. #foodbank #poverty #homelessness @TrussellUK

We need to make sure Young Carers get the appropriate support in schools to succeed. It was great to talk to the Carers Trust in Parliament today about ‘Young Carer Leads’ who can support carers in schools and to share my own experiences of care with visiting young carers. Along with Alison Bennett, the Liberal Democrat Carers Spokesperson, I am committed to supporting Young Carers with all aspects of their lives and I will continue to campaign to ensure they succeed in school. #carers #youngcarers #care #education #schools @AlisonEBennett