UK General Election - May 7th 2015 (The Official Election Day & Results Thread)

[Barnes]

So, When do the polls close tonight?

10:00 PM in the UK -- 5:00 PM EDT.

[Barnes]

So, When do the polls close tonight?

10pm with the BBC's exit poll around 20 minutes later. It was very accurate in seat totals for each party in 2010.

The exit poll is usually released as soon as the polls close.  In 2010 for example, the BBC made a big fanfare of playing Big Ben strike ten as they put out the poll.

[Barnes]

Just in case anyone's wondering, a large bulge of results usually floods in around 2:00 to 3:00 am UK time.

[Barnes]

The easiest form of abstention is to simply skip the division, but, yes, voting in both lobbies can also be done.

[Barnes]

The candidates do, of course, but it's fun to watch the crowd's reaction at each declaration.

[Barnes]

Labour hold Edinburgh South.

Really? Huh. Should that be surprising?

Edinburgh might be a small area where Labour is able to hold on to a sliver of seats in the face of the SNP's sweep.

[Barnes]

Is Boris' hair always that bad?  He's single-handedly giving English barbers a worse reputation than English dentists.

The shuffled hair look is Boris's trademark style.  The more ruffled the more Boris.

[Barnes]

George Galloway has been blown out of Bradford. Labour has a majority of 11,000.

[Barnes]

At the very least, Cameron remains PM until the Queen's Speech.

The Tories will most certainly be running the show for at least a few years; most probably the full five.

[Barnes]

I assume Clegg, too, is out of leadership for this fiasco even though he kept his seat?

Him continuing in the job would be virtually impossible; if the projected losses of only 20 seats had happened he very well may have stayed on, but the party likely in the single digits he's facing a whole new world.

[Barnes]

Just a few updates: Ed Balls seat won't likely declare for another hour or hour-and-a-half and Thanet South (which has Farage) hasn't started counting yet.

[Barnes]

The Lib Dem HQ has admitted that they may not win any more seats - previously they were saying they could get up to 12.

[Barnes]

Miliband and Clegg will probably have resigned by lunchtime, and if Farage falls in Thanet he'll likely be gone by dinner.

[Barnes]

Just a few updates: Ed Balls seat won't likely declare for another hour or hour-and-a-half and Thanet South (which has Farage) hasn't started counting yet.

Any information about Brighton (about the other small party)?

Not sure on a time for Brighton and the Greens, but I'd think a declaration by the early afternoon.  The South of England is very slow at counting.

[Barnes]

Farron retained his seat; he would be the obvious successor to Clegg.

His name has been going around on the BBC commentary as the only candidate.

[Barnes]

Just a few updates: Ed Balls seat won't likely declare for another hour or hour-and-a-half and Thanet South (which has Farage) hasn't started counting yet.

Any information about Brighton (about the other small party)?

Not sure on a time for Brighton and the Greens, but I'd think a declaration by the early afternoon.  The South of England is very slow at counting.

Actually Brighton Pavilion should be coming fairly shortly.

[Barnes]

Oh yeah, what about Bercow? Not his seat of course, but his Speakership?

Any attempt to do a re-do of March would certainly be another fiasco for the Tories.  Bercow is fine.

[Barnes]

Sources say that Miliband will be gone by lunchtime.

that's a clever line, but other 'sources' suggest he holds the leadership until Labour picks a new one.  you need a face to deal with

Wouldn't be necessary as Harman could take over as interim leader as she did in 2010.

[Barnes]

The BBC has David Butler on their program.  My night has been made - I've been missing his commentary all night.

[Barnes]

Remember that recounts don't always (or even usually) mean a close result.  Of course, with Balls's seat it should be very close, but usually recount requests come from smaller candidates trying to save their deposits.  

[Barnes]

Remember that recounts don't always (or even usually) mean a close result.  Of course, with Balls's seat it should be very close, but usually recount requests come from smaller candidates trying to save their deposits. 

speaking of deposits, at this point in the night the Liberal Democrats have lost £141,500

They might be able to cover that when they liquidate.

[Barnes]

I will say one thing: I am quite glad that all this chatter of the new "pluralistic, multi-party" system is over.  Wasn't going to happen and was quite annoying.

[Barnes]

New BBC prediction has an overall Tory majority of three.  Looks like we're at October 1974.

[Barnes]

Brighton Pavilion will be declaring in a few minutes.

[Barnes]

Brighton Pavilion will be declaring in a few minutes.

Greens increase their majority to 8,000.