LD regained this seat from Con — last held it in 2010.
MP News Approval i
+48
Ben Maguire
Liberal DemocratsBen Maguire is the Liberal Democrat MP for North Cornwall, and has been an MP continually since 4 July 2024. He currently undertakes the role of Liberal Democrat Shadow Attorney General.
Vote on New Clause 2 to the Terminally Ill Adults (End of Life) Bill, debated alongside related amendments including provisions on guidance, devolution, and regulatory consultation. The excerpts focus on New Clause 20, which would require the Secretary of State to issue guidance (consulting chief medical officers and palliative/hospice care providers) and enable Welsh Ministers to issue guidance on devolved health matters.
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Sign up freeCoverage of North Cornwall has been mixed for Ben across 40 recent articles.
Positive coverage
“Work starts on £22m North Devon hospital building” — Devon Live
“Councillors 'horrified' by 'oppression' of children at Athena trust schools” — Cornwall Live
Represented by LD since 2024. Covers Bodmin, Launceston and Bude. Population 103,843, notably older (median age 48 vs 41 nationally). Median income £26K (below average).
Emergency on coast path
Devon Live · 9 Apr 2026
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Sign up freeMedian Income▼
£25,500
per year (HMRC 2022-23)
Mean Income▼
£32,700
per year (HMRC 2022-23)
Businesses▼
5,610
VAT/PAYE registered (ONS 2024)
Schools▼
63
53 primary, 5 secondary, 5 other
Total Income Tax▼
£233m
from 52,000 taxpayers
Median Tax▼
£2,370
per taxpayer / year
Mean Tax
£4,470
per taxpayer / year
Source: HMRC Survey of Personal Incomes, tax year 2022-23. Allocated by taxpayer residence. Covers income tax only — excludes NI, VAT, and capital gains. Sample-based estimate (~8% confidence interval).
Attainment 8▼
42.9
average score (DfE)
GCSE Pass Rate▼
61.8%
5+ GCSEs 9-4 (DfE)
1 large town, 4 towns, 10 villages, rural areas — 98,063 total population
Source: ONS Built-Up Areas (Census 2021) + data.police.uk — crime rates are per 1,000 population (last 3 months)
Source: data.police.uk — street-level crime data aggregated from LSOA to constituency
15 councillors across 15 wards · Last elections: May 2021
| Ward | Party | Councillor | Elected |
|---|---|---|---|
| Altarnun Stoke Climsland | Liberal Democrats | Adrian Parsons | May 2021 |
| Bodmin St Marys St Leonard | Liberal Democrats | Pat Rogerson | May 2021 |
| Bodmin St Petrocs | Liberal Democrats | Leigh Lansbury Frost | May 2021 |
| Bude | Liberal Democrats | Peter John La Broy | May 2021 |
| Camelford Boscastle | Conservative and Unionist Party | Barry Jordan | May 2021 |
| Lanivet Blisland Bodmin St Lawrence | Conservative and Unionist Party | Jenny Cruse | May 2021 |
| Launceston North North Petherwin | Independent Berwick Hills Resident | Adam Richard Paynter | May 2021 |
| Launceston South | Conservative and Unionist Party | John Conway | May 2021 |
| Padstow | Conservative and Unionist Party | Stephen Rushworth | May 2021 |
| Poundstock | Liberal Democrats | Nicky Chopak | May 2021 |
| St Columb Major St Mawgan St Wenn | Independent Berwick Hills Resident | William Paul Wills | May 2021 |
| St Teath Tintagel | Liberal Democrats | Dominic Fairman | May 2021 |
| Stratton Kilkhampton Morwenstow | Conservative and Unionist Party | Shorne Tilbey | May 2021 |
| Wadebridge East St Minver | Conservative and Unionist Party | Carol Mould | May 2021 |
| Wadebridge West St Mabyn | Independent Berwick Hills Resident | Robin Edward Moorcroft | May 2021 |
Source: DCLEAPIL v1.0 by Jason Leman, LEAP (Andrew Teale) & Democracy Club. CC BY-SA 4.0. Data last refreshed: 1 Apr 2026.
| Candidate | Party | Votes | Share |
|---|---|---|---|
| LD | 24,094 | 47.0% | |
Won 2019 GEWon 2017 GEWon 2015 GE | Con | 14,137 | 27.6% |
| Ref | 8,444 | 16.5% | |
| Lab | 2,958 | 5.8% | |
| Green | 1,335 | 2.6% | |
| Ind | 277 | 0.5% |
| Candidate | Party | Votes | Share |
|---|---|---|---|
✓ Won 2017 GEWon 2015 GE | Con | 30,671 | 59.4% |
Won 2024 GE | LD | 15,919 | 30.8% |
| Lab | 4,516 | 8.7% | |
| Ind | 572 | 1.1% |
| Candidate | Party | Votes | Share |
|---|---|---|---|
✓ Won 2019 GEWon 2015 GE | Con | 25,835 | 50.7% |
| LD | 18,635 | 36.6% | |
| Lab | 6,151 | 12.1% | |
| Ind | 185 | 0.4% | |
| Ind | 138 | 0.3% |
| Candidate | Party | Votes | Share |
|---|---|---|---|
✓ Won 2019 GEWon 2017 GE | Con | 21,689 | 45.0% |
Won 2010 GE | LD | 15,068 | 31.2% |
| Ind | 6,121 | 12.7% | |
Won 2024 GE | Lab | 2,621 | 5.4% |
| Green | 2,063 | 4.3% | |
| Ind | 631 | 1.3% | |
| Ind | 52 | 0.1% |
| Candidate | Party | Votes | Share |
|---|---|---|---|
| LD | 22,512 | 48.1% | |
| Con | 19,531 | 41.7% | |
| Ind | 2,300 | 4.9% | |
| Lab | 1,971 | 4.2% | |
| Ind | 530 | 1.1% |
Ben Maguire has not appeared in national political news coverage tracked by our system. This is common for backbench MPs who focus on constituency-level work rather than national policy debates.
13 articles hidden as not sufficiently relevant to this constituency
Emergency services responded to a medical incident on the North Cornwall coast path near Crackington Haven on April 7, involving the Bude Coastguard Rescue Team, a coastguard helicopter, and ambulance paramedics. The casualty was successfully located and transferred to land ambulance care.
Bodmin & Wenford Railway, a heritage attraction in Cornwall, has suffered two break-ins within two weeks, with alcohol and food stolen. Devon & Cornwall Police are appealing for public help identifying a suspect shown in CCTV images.
Thieves broke into cash machines at Morrisons in Bude early Thursday morning, forcing entry with tools and stealing cash. Devon and Cornwall Police are investigating and appealing for information about a blue vehicle suspected to be involved.
Devon and Cornwall Police are appealing for information following two break-ins at the Bodmin & Wenford Railway in late March, with alcohol and food stolen. The police have released an image of a person they believe may assist with enquiries.
A Bodmin-based agri-tech business, Horizon Agri Ltd, is using drone technology to help Cornish farmers increase efficiency in crop fertilisation, field monitoring, and solar panel cleaning. The company received £50,000 in funding from the British Business Bank and South West Investment Fund to launch its drone services across the UK.
A residential fire broke out on Delabole High Street in North Cornwall, trapping a resident who was rescued by firefighters and treated for smoke inhalation and minor injuries. Emergency services from multiple stations responded and extinguished the fire, with an investigation underway to determine the cause.
A Railway 200 Inspiration train exhibition showcasing 200 years of UK rail history pulled into Newquay Station in North Cornwall this week, featuring interactive exhibits and hands-on activities. The mobile exhibition, which has attracted 80,000 visitors nationally, will remain in Newquay until Saturday with free admission.
Cornwall Council has announced nine road closures and a 10mph speed limit across various locations in April and May 2026 to support utility, telecoms, highway maintenance and safety projects. The temporary traffic orders affect areas including Bodmin, Padstow, Newquay, Wadebridge, and Tintagel, with details available on the Public Notice Portal.
A 24-year-old Bodmin resident was banned from keeping animals for eight years after his dog was found severely malnourished and suffering from neglect. The case was investigated and prosecuted by the RSPCA, resulting in a court conviction at Bodmin Magistrates Court.
The National Trust has acquired Alldays Field near Fowey, Cornwall, a 13.66-hectare coastal stretch, thanks to a bequest from late Reverend Anthony Mapplebeck through the Neptune Coastline Campaign. The acquisition ensures uninterrupted public access along the South West Coast Path and allows for enhanced management of the grasslands and wildflower areas.
Cornwall councillors and MPs, including North Cornwall MP Ben Maguire, have expressed serious concerns about 'oppressive' practices at Athena Learning Trust schools (including Launceston College and Camborne Science and International Academy). A cross-party group of councillors is working with Maguire and neighbouring MP Perran Moon to escalate complaints to the Government about strict discipline policies, high exclusion rates, and reported mental health impacts on students.
A 26-year-old Bulgarian man was jailed for sexually assaulting a teenage girl in an alleyway near Launceston College in January. Swift police work led to his arrest within hours, and the victim's brave resistance and quick reporting helped prevent further offences.
Cornwall Council and its highways company Cormac are trialling Elastomac, an innovative pothole repair material made from recycled aggregates and used tyres, to tackle the county's significant pothole backlog exacerbated by winter storms. The new material offers longer-lasting repairs, reduced environmental impact, and faster completion times, with the backlog reducing from over 5,000 to 3,700 in two weeks.
Roxanne Bolton, a 39-year-old mother of five from Bude, Cornwall, was severely injured in a motorcycle collision in India and is stranded awaiting multiple surgeries costing thousands of pounds. Her family has launched a GoFundMe campaign to raise funds for her medical treatment and repatriation.
This article is a geographical and historical overview of Bude, describing its location, beaches, and natural features including its status as a Site of Special Scientific Interest. It provides general information about the town but contains no news content or current events.
The Pearl Exchange, a mental health charity based in Bude supporting young people aged 18-35, has received £124,953 from the National Lottery over three years. The funding will support the charity's operations and expand its workshop programme across Cornwall and Devon, helping vulnerable young adults facing poverty, mental ill-health, and unemployment.
Two Cornish MPs have responded to serious concerns about schools run by the Athena Learning Trust, with parents reporting harsh discipline policies, inadequate special needs support, and alarming suspension rates. Ben Maguire (North Cornwall MP) attended a public meeting in Launceston and pledged to continue engaging with the trust and Department for Education on the issue.
Parents and former pupils at Launceston College held a public meeting to voice serious concerns about the school's strict discipline policies, including excessive exclusions, restrictions on toilet access, and inadequate support for children with special educational needs. The meeting highlighted cases of students losing hundreds of days of education and suffering mental health deterioration due to the school's management style.
Construction has begun on a £22.7 million staff accommodation block at North Devon District Hospital, but the MP warns that waiting until 2035 for critical clinical upgrades is unacceptable. The hospital serves North Devon and North Cornwall, with aging infrastructure described as a 'ticking time bomb' by clinical leaders.
A man broke into the DCM Lego Shop in St Columb Major, armed with a power tool, and barricaded himself inside before police negotiated his peaceful exit after five hours. The 40-year-old from Newquay was arrested on suspicion of aggravated burglary, drug possession, and criminal damage, and released on bail pending investigation.
The Ministry of Defence is extending protection to over two dozen military shipwrecks around the UK, including several in Cornish waters such as HMCS Regina (north of Padstow) and Trentonian (off Mevagissey). The move aims to prevent illegal salvage and disturbance of war graves through enhanced legislation under the Protection of Military Remains Act.
Boardmasters festival 2026 has announced its full lineup including headliners Lily Allen, Kasabian, and Fatboy Slim, alongside emerging artists like Nia Archives. The festival, held in Cornwall, combines music performances with surf competitions, wellness activities, and cultural experiences across the clifftop venue.
A dog named Grace has been missing for two weeks after falling into the River Fowey near Golitha Falls in Cornwall, spooked by a stranger. The owner, Becca McAlpine, has appealed for help while expressing frustration at online trolls and hoaxers complicating her search efforts.
A regional round-up covering diverse stories from Cornwall and Devon, including a royal visit to the Eden Project, a NASA satellite station role in the Artemis II mission, and local conservation and cultural projects. Several items directly concern North Cornwall's region, particularly the Goonhilly Earth Station involvement and North Devon surfer achievements.
A Bodmin resident was burgled by a drug-addicted woman who stole cat food, a debit card, and phone from an 85-year-old vulnerable man in his own home. The case highlights local crime involving substance abuse and exploitation of elderly residents in North Cornwall.
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