It was five years ago that Cornwall’s political landscape was completely altered, with all six of the Duchy’s MPs wearing the blue rosettes of the Conservative Party.

Since then we have had a further two general elections with the Conservatives again returning all six MPs.

But it was the election in 2015 that the tide turned and a sea of blue swept across Cornwall.

Ahead of the election on May 7 there were three Liberal Democrat MPs in Cornwall – Andrew George in St Ives, Dan Rogerson in North Cornwall and Stephen Gilbert in St Austell and Newquay.

Cornwall had long been a stronghold for the Lib Dems and after the 2010 general election the party suddenly found itself at the top table after forming a coalition government with the Conservative Party.

But it turned out to be a poisoned chalice and the Lib Dems paid a heavy price at the next ballot,  nationally going from having 57 MPs to just eight – the party’s worst performance since forming in 1988.

And in Cornwall the party was wiped off the Parliamentary map completely. In their place came three fresh-faced Conservative MPs – all of whom have continued to retain their seats in the subsequent two elections.

Of course, under fixed-term Parliaments legislation, last week should have been the end of the new MPs’ first term – instead they have found themselves going to the polls twice since.

In 2015 the three new MPs were – Steve Double for St Austell and Newquay, Scott Mann for North Cornwall and, in St Ives, Derek Thomas.

Mr Double and Mr Mann were familiar to followers of Cornish politics having both served as Cornwall councillors before making the step from the chamber at County Hall to the House of Commons.

Mr Double was elected with a swing of 9.5 per cent and a 40.2 per cent share of the vote and securing a majority of 8,173.

Interestingly the Conservative share of the vote barely increased from 2010 when the Lib Dems took the seat – in that election they got 40 per cent of the vote.

What sealed the fate of Mr Gilbert was the total collapse of the Lib Dem share of the vote which went from 42.7 per cent in 2010 to just 24 per cent in 2015.

In the pre-Brexit environment it was UKIP which benefited the most, seeing its share of the vote leap by 13.2 per cent.

Over in North Cornwall it was a similar story with the Lib Dems the only party to see a drop in their share of the vote.

Mr Mann took the seat from Mr Rogerson securing 45% of the vote compared to 31.2 per cent for the Lib Dem man.

And the former postman scored a majority of 6,621 which has been consolidated at each subsequent election, strengthening his hold on the seat.

Having first been elected in 1997 Mr George was the longest serving MP in Cornwall in 2015.

But he lost out to Mr Thomas, albeit with a closer result than the other two seats gained by the Tories.

Here both the Conservatives and Lib Dems saw their share of the vote fall but with 38.3 per cent Thomas secred victory with George getting 33.2 per cent.

But the new Conservative MP had a majority of 2,469 which was slashed to just 312 in 2017 when George attempted to regain his position as MP.

Last year’s election saw Mr Thomas’ majority increased substantially to 4,280.

Elsewhere in Cornwall in 2015 the other three Conservative MPs boosted their majorities having first been elected in 2010.

In Camborne and Redruth George Eustice went into the polls with a majority of just 66 but by the time the results were declared he had gained considerably and scored a majority of 7,004.

It was here that the collapse of the Lib Dem vote was most pronounced with the party slumping back in fourth place behind Labour and UKIP and its share of the vote dropping by 25 per cent.

Tory Sarah Newton in neighbouring Truro and Falmouth also saw her majority scale new heights going from just 435 in 2010 to 14,000 in 2015.

Again the Lib Dem vote took the biggest hit, falling by 24 per cent, although the party still managed to place as runner-up.

Over in South East Cornwall, Conservative Sheryll Murray retained the seat having first been elected in 2010 in a gain from the Lib Dems.

In 2015 she scored a majority of 16,995 – a big increase on her 2010 win with a 3,220 majority.

Prior to the general election many commentators expected another hung parliament and the possibility of a further coalition government.

In the event David Cameron and the Conservatives took a small majority of 12 seats and their first outright win for 23 years.

Here in Cornwall in the following two elections – 2017 and 2019 – the Conservatives have increased their hold on the six Parliamentary seats with all having increased majorities at December’s election.

The Lib Dems have continued to see their share of the vote cut and in four seats – St Austell and Newquay, Truro and Falmouth, South East Cornwall and in Camborne and Redruth – they have been pushed into third place by Labour.

With local elections for Cornwall Council set for next year it will be interesting to see whether the Conservatives’ dominance at Parliamentary level will be converted into success at County Hall.

The Tories are currently the largest political group at the council but have no overall majority with the council’s administration a coalition between Lib Dem and Independent councillors.

The 2015 general election saw a significant shift in the political landscape in Cornwall. Time will tell as to whether 2021 sees another shift at local level.