21:09 It’s almost time…
Join me from 10pm here on Election Night and bring some snacks for comment, speculation and coverage throughout the night into the wee small hours for what is set to be one of the closest elections ever. Who will win? You decide! (Probably)
22:12 Exit Poll
Well that’s it then but it isn’t is it? No it’s just the start again. The polls are closed and now the votes are being counted. What have we done? Well, the exit polls are predicting a hung parliament with Conservatives having 316 seats, Labour 239 seats and the Lib Dems on 10. The SNP are predicte to have 58 out of 59 possible seats with UKIP on 2 and others on 25.
22:19 Paddy Ashdown
Paddy Ashdown says he’ll “eat his hat” if the exit polls are correct and the Liberal Democrats are obliterated as predicted by them. As yet there is no official statement from Paddy Ashdown’s hat.
22:23 Race for a Result
One of the usual set-pieces of the election is the race to have the first result in. Only Newcastle and Sunderland seem to take part in this demeaning “It’s a Knockout” style display. Let’s face it, it’s the only thing Newcastle or Sunderland ever look like winning.
22:33 Portillo Moments
Will we get any Portillo moments this time around? Esther McVey in Wirral West will be one of the seats that will be closely watched. There could well be some high profile Labour casualties in Scotland and just how many Liberal Democrat big hitters could go?
22:37 Snacks
Just to confirm the result of my trip to the shop for tonight’s snacks. I’ve got crisps, custard creams, Nice biscuits and Kit-Kats. Does that seem excessive? It’s a long night you know!!!
22:43 Paul Nuttalls of the UKIPs
An early appearance of Paul Nuttalls of the UKIPs. On brighter news though he doesn’t believe the exit polls either. Although back on the downside again he’s confident of a win for Nigel Farage in South Thanet.
22:47 Sunderland
Looks like Sunderland have stuffed up their fast count and have failed to beat the current record for announcing a result. Heads will roll. More bad news in the North East then.
22:54 Result
Labour hold Sunderland South. A safe Labour seat and increasing their majority but interestingly UKIP have come second and the Liberal Democrats last with what might well be described as a deposit losing sympathy vote.
22:57 My Prediction
My thoughts prior to the exit poll were Conservatives to be doing slightly worse than predicted, Labour to be doing slightly better and Liberal Democrats to do very badly. At least one bit of that seems to be holding up.
23:00 Charles Kennedy
Charles Kennedy may well lose his seat in Parliament but has got a stool on standby at his local pub.
23:02 Ed Balls
Rumours that Ed Balls could lose his seat!!! Shock Portillo moment on the cards?
23:05 Eating
Alastair Campbell now says, “he’ll eat his kilt” if the exit poll is correct. There could be a lot of politicians with indigestion in the morning.
23:10 Lead
Labour, dismissing the exit poll disappointment by proudly stating they have been in the lead in the actual election results so far for almost half an hour now.
23:17 Result
Labour hold Sunderland Central. Liberal Democrats blushes spared by an independent candidate but still lose another deposit.
23:21 Caution
Nicola Sturgeon, trying hard not to squeal with glee, also urges caution on the exit poll but as yet has not promised to eat any article of her clothing.
23:24 Prediction
Nigel Farage and Al Murray predicted to challenge each other to a “yard of ale” challenge, whatever the result of the voting in South Thanet.
23:28 Newcastle
Disappointment in Newcastle as they still haven’t declared any of their seats. John Carver denies any involvement in coaching the counters.
23:40 Queen Speech Fest?
A hung parliament could see a record number of Queen’s Speeches this year. Black Rod limbering up as we speak.
23:58 Prediction
George Galloway now rumoured to be losing his seat in Bradford. Predicted mood adjusted to: Conspiratorial.
00:04 Danny Alexander
Danny Alexander looks to be losing his seat to the SNP. He will be missed by no-one.
00:10 Peston
Is it just me or does Robert Peston look like he’s in the middle of a mid-life crisis?
00:14 Snack update
First packet of crisps down and now I’m feeling a custard cream coming on. Well there’s nothing else going on and frankly I’m not resorting to pictures of dogs at polling stations!
00:24 Exit Woes
Chester and Wirral West expected to stay Conservative if the exit polls are correct along with Southport becoming a Conservative gain from the Liberal Democrats. The whiskey bottle could be replacing the snacks.
00:29 A Plea
Count faster people! I’m almost hoping to see Paul Nutalls of the UKIPs on the telly again. Almost.
00:32 Latest
UKIP said to be “bouncy” in Canvey Island. Well who wouldn’t be, let’s be fair!
00:35 What?
So Neil Kinnock’s son is likely to become an MP tonight in Wales and he’s married to the Norwegian PM? What sort of political Game of Thrones is this?
00:39 Negatives All Round
The Dark Lord Mandelson is here. “All 3 parties have lost”, he says, “just some have lost more than others!” Chin up though. Remember what Nick Berry said. Every loser wins!!! Not sure how that might work though.
00:46 Wirral West Update
According to the Liberal Democrat candidate Wirral West, currently held by Conservative minister Esther McVey is “very close” between Labour and the Tories.
00:52 Theresa May
Theresa May standing by her SNP constitutional crisis line. Alan Johnson repeating the Dark Lord Mandelson’s “all 3 parties have lost line”. A whiff of central office there. Incidentally, the Liberal Democrats have lost their deposit in all 4 declared seats so far.
01:02 Result
Conservatives hold Wandsworth. Not looking good for Nigel Farage in South Thanet. Crying into his beer perhaps?
01:07 Dull
Good Grief! Just to prove how dull this election has been the dogs at polling stations twitter malarkey has made the BBC’s news bulletin. Scooby Doo currently unavailable for comment.
01:09 Result
Another Labour hold in Newcastle. Looks like the least expensive result to date for the Liberal Democrats in terms of their deposit!
01:14 Tooting
Toot toot!!! (Sorry, it’s late) Sadiq Khan holds his seat for Labour and race into a 5-2 lead.
01:20 Selfish
Neil Kinnock says that if the exit polls are right, a swing to the Conservatives is down to selfish, greedy, self-centred morons.
01:24 Result
Battersea held by the Conservatives. MP wearing one of the most hideous green jackets I’ve ever seen.
01:33 Early Results
Labour have held Wrexham but a 2.5% swing from Labour to Conservative, along with the exit poll doesn’t bode particularly well for Ed Milliband. Is it too early to barricade ourselves into our local hospitals?
01:42 Correction
Mrs Kinnock is indeed the Danish PM and not the Norwegian one. I stand corrected, (Thanks Paula) although not too effected.
01:46 Emigration
I lived in Dundee for a few years can I claim refuge in Scotland? What’s Denmark like these days too? Maybe the North can declare UDI?
01:48 Lefties
BBC pundits wondering if Labour campaign might have been too left-leaning. Maybe it wasn’t left leaning enough though?
01:54 Nuneaton
Conservatives hold seat and Liberal Democrats lose deposit again. Labour had hoped to gain this one but lose ground. Exit polls looking more accurate with every result so far.
01:59 Nuneaton Curse
That Nuneaton result could actually spell the possibility of a Conservative outright win. Pollsters scratching their heads and searching for their book of excuses.
02:04 Breaking News
David Milliband packing his bags and ready to return to Britain. Whatever might be left of it by the time he gets back. Sure it’ll be just to offer Ed some consolation.
02:09 BBC
Kirsty Walk doing her best Norman Collier impression there. (Ask your parents)
02:14 Results
Lib Dems off the mark with a hold in Wales and SNP gain Kilmarnock from Labour in what could well be a familiar story as the night goes on.
02:19 Targets
Mixed messages coming out of some of Labour’s target seats. Both Labour and Conservatives think they may have Wirral West. Labour also think they may have taken Bury North from the Tories.
02:26 Paisley Pattern?
Labour’s Shadow Foreign Secretary Douglas Alexander’s face gave it away. In the biggest “Portillo moment” of the night so far he’s lost to a 20 year-old student. SNP gain.
02:29 Battering
Dumbatonshire and Dundee West go SNP with massive swings from Labour 33% and 29% respectively.
02:32 Another one bites the dust
Labour lose Falkirk and Ochil & South Perthshire to SNP. Oh and Glenrothes goes the same way too. A 35% swing there!!!
02:40 SNP
Alex Salmond still hoping for a “progressive alliance” in the House of Commons. Looks less and less likely now but Salmond can hardly contain his delight at the scale of the SNP result in Scotland.
02:56 The Message
There was a clear anti-austerity message by the SNP in Scotland. No such choice in England. Interesting that Labour Chair Lucy Powell pretty much blaming the Scottish electorate for a possible Conservative Government.
03:20 Gone
Jim Murphy loses his seat in Scotland now. That’s the Scottish Labour Leader out now. Very likely that there’ll be no Labour MP’s in Scotland. Back in England Labour’s number 1 target seat in Warwickshire has seen the Conservatives extend their majority and in Wales they’ve lost Clwyd!
03:27 Scotland
Sturgeon and Salmond have already got the builders in. Huge wall rumoured.
03:32 Sad Times
Tessa Jowell looks depressed. No sign of Ed Miliband yet. Apparently he might not see this afternoon out according to the Guardian. I’m presuming they mean as Leader of the Labour Party.
03:37 Huge Pockets
The Liberal Democrats are losing that many deposits they could be mistaken for an absent minded banker.
03:49 No Energy Left
Ed Davey is now the former Energy Secretary as he loses his seat to the Conservatives in Kingston. Meanwhile, Labour’s safest seat in Scotland is lost to the SNP with a 39% swing. At this rate the BBC’s swingometer will be lapping itself.
04:02 Left, Right, Left, Right
Still no political pundits giving any credence to the possibility that Labour might not have been left wing enough as opposed to too left wing! SNP clearly an anti-austerity party and look at their results. Look how well other anti-austerity parties have done in Europe too. There was no clear anti-austerity choice in England.
04:12 Liberal Who?
Simon Hughes has lost his seat to Labour ending his 32 year career as MP for Bermondsey. Nick Clegg under threat in Sheffield. Another close one it seems.
04:22 UKIPs
Douglas Carswell who defected from Conservative to UKIPs holds onto his seat in Clacton. Immediately calling for electoral reform!
04:39 Cable Ties
Vince Cable loses his seat in Twickenham. Liberal Democrats learning that you can’t enter an election on the left and end up propping up a Government on the right.
04:41 Hold
Lib Dems have managed to hold Southport though, which looked against the odds earlier on.
04:45 Wirral West Update
As the re-count is underway, word has it that Labour think they have narrowly defeated Esther McVey.
04:56 Clegg Watch
Looks like Nick Clegg has resigned himself to resign as Lib Dem leader.
05:12 Balls Up
Shadow Chancellor Ed Balls may well have lost his seat, in what would be a devastating blow for Labour and Ed Milliband.
05:26 Ding Dong Do
Charles Kennedy has lost his seat in Dingwall. As leader of the Liberal Democrats he moved them to the left and gave them the base for Nick Clegg to build on successfully in 2010 only to throw it away by propping up a right-wing Tory party. Charles is another victim and is likely to be seen queuing outside Weatherspoons this morning.
05:30 Significant Others
Thanet South result probably not due until 6am at least. Likely that we won’t see Ed Balls’ result for another hour or so either.
05:37 McVey
Esther McVey talks about bitter, brutal campaign in Wirral West. Maybe some truth in that but her actions and demeanour in office didn’t do her any favours.
05:50 Every Cloud?
Chester may turn red it seems although a Conservative victory looking increasingly more likely.
06:03 Enough is enough
And on that bombshell…
I think that’s me done for the morning. It’s been emotional hasn’t it? Oh and a very depressed Danny Alexander has just lost his seat to the SNP now! (Every cloud again eh?). Well, another grim 5 years in prospect then. Night Night!!!
Large whiskey anyone?
johnrankinmills.com 