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Stephen Matthew Darling (born 1969) is a British Liberal Democrat politician who has served as Member of Parliament (MP) for Torbay since 2024. He has been a member of Torbay Council since 1995 and was the leader of the council from 2019 to 2023. Darling is registered blind and has a guide dog named Jennie.
In 1969, Darling was given up for adoption in Birmingham when he was three months old, and moved to Torquay in Devon at the age of 18 months. He traced his birth family in the 2000s, finding them to be living nearby in South Devon.
Darling has
Political career
Darling was first elected to Torbay Borough Council in 1995 for the ward of Shiphay. The council became a unitary authority as Torbay Council in 1998, and Darling was re-elected as a councillor for Shiphay in 1997 and 2000. He represented the ward of Watcombe from the reorganisation of ward boundaries in 2003, and has represented Barton with Watcombe since a further change in ward boundaries in 2019. Darling was the leader of Torbay Council from 28 May 2019 to 16 May 2023. In 2024, Darling was selected as the Liberal Democrat candidate for the constituency of Torbay at the 2024 general election. During his campaign, a charity for visually impaired people in Devon accused local Conservative Party canvassers of suggesting that Darling was pretending to be blind for political gain. His Conservative opponent, Kevin Foster, denied that the allegations had been made. At the general election, Darling gained the seat from Foster, winning a majority of 5,349.Personal life
In 1969, Darling was given up for adoption in Birmingham when he was three months old, and moved to Torquay in Devon at the age of 18 months. He traced his birth family in the 2000s, finding them to be living nearby in South Devon.
Darling has Stargardt disease
Stargardt disease is the most common inherited single-gene retinal disease. In terms of the first description of the disease, it follows an autosomal recessive inheritance pattern, which has been later linked to bi-allelic ABCA4 gene variants (S ...
, a genetic eye condition that makes his vision "a bit like looking through frosted glass". He is aided by his guide dog Jennie, who is three-quarters Golden Retriever and one-quarter Labrador. He is one of at least three disabled MPs who were first elected in 2024, alongside Labour MPs Marie Tidball and Jen Craft.
Darling's wife, Mandy, is also registered blind and has been a fellow Torbay councillor. They have two sons.
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* 1969 births Living people Blind politicians British politicians with disabilities Councillors in Devon English adoptees English blind people Leaders of local authorities of England Liberal Democrats (UK) councillors Liberal Democrats (UK) MPs for English constituencies Politicians from Birmingham, West Midlands Politicians from Torquay Spouses of British politicians UK councillors 1995–1999 UK councillors 1997–2001 UK councillors 2000–2004 UK councillors 2003–2007 UK councillors 2007–2011 UK councillors 2011–2015 UK councillors 2015–2019 UK councillors 2019–2023 UK councillors 2023–2027 UK MPs 2024–present {{England-UK-MP-stub