From 1974 when it was created until 1997 Torbay constituency was a safe Conservative seat .
Liberal Democrat Adrian Sanders overturned spy writer Rupert Allason 's majority by just 12 votes in 1997 , widened to 6,708 in 2001 .
From 1974 when it was created until 1997 Torbay constituency was a safe Conservative seat , but Liberal Democrat Adrian Sanders overturned spy writer Rupert Allason 's majority by just 12 votes in 1997 , widened to 6,708 in 2001 .