UK

Support trulyindependent journalismFind out moreCloseOur mission is to deliver unbiased, fact-based reporting that holds power to account and exposes the truth.Whether $5 or $50, every contribution counts.Support us to deliver journalism without an agenda.Louise ThomasEditorElection night is here, so get ready for a series of exciting twists, turns and upsets.Most of the results should be declared by about 6.30am on Friday — and as the seat declarations start to trickle in, I’ll be here to answer your burning questions on the biggest shocks and surprises; what the outcomes signify; and how the results will shape the future of British politics.Throughout the night, we may be treated to several “Portillo moments” – when big-beast cabinet members have their majorities overturned, as in 1997 when former Tory leadership contender Michael Portillo lost Enfield Southgate to Labour’s unknown candidate Stephen Twigg.We could see several high-profile ministers lose their seats in quick succession. Among those most at risk are the chancellor Jeremy Hunt, in Godalming and Ash, Penny Mordaunt in Portsmouth North, and possibly Gillian Keegan, who could lose her Chichester seat to the Lib Dems or even Labour.At around 4am we should hear from Clacton and Richmond and Northallerton, where Nigel Farage and Rishi Sunak are standing respectively. If Sunak loses, this would be the biggest Portillo moment of them all: the first time a sitting prime minister is deposed in their own seat. However, only one MRP poll, from Savanta, predicts that he will lose.Once the bigger picture is formed, it will be time for the comings and goings on Downing Street. If the result is as expected, Sunak will leave No 10, and Starmer will arrive by lunchtime. A new cabinet will be appointed within a few hours in the early afternoon.If you’re following along with election night and have a question on the results submit it below as I join you at midnight for this special “Ask Me Anything” event. I am hoping to keep answering your questions through the night and on Friday morning. Register to submit your question in the comments box under this article.Scroll down or click here to leave your comment.If you’re not already a member, click “sign up” in the comments section to leave your question. For a full guide on how to comment click here. More

Support trulyindependent journalismFind out moreCloseOur mission is to deliver unbiased, fact-based reporting that holds power to account and exposes the truth.Whether $5 or $50, every contribution counts.Support us to deliver journalism without an agenda.Louise ThomasEditorViewers who tuned into Channel 4’s general election coverage have described Nadine Dorries’ interactions with panelists as the “moment of the night”. Ms Dorries branded former Tony Blair spin doctor Alastair Campbell “sexist” after he told her she needs to  “get over” Boris Johnson. The fiery clash began when the panel were discussing who was responsible for the Conservative Party’s historic defeat. Mr Campbell told the former culture secretary, who is one of Mr Johnson’s most outspoken supporters, she needs “get over” the former prime minister. Follow our blog for live updatesMs Dorries responded: “Actually I find that to be quite a sexist comment!”Mr Campbell replied: “It really isn’t, you seem to think Boris Johnson is still an electoral asset. Rishi Sunak wheeling him out on the eve of the election was one of his many mistakes.”In a separate interaction, Ms Dorries revealed she received a text from Mr Johnson but refused to divulge his thoughts. She then tried to shift the focus when asked if Mr Johnson was “watching you on Channel 4”, asking, “why don’t you talk to Alistair about Tony Blair?”Moments later Emily Maitlis, who is hosting the Channel 4 general election coverage alongside Krishnan Guru-Murthy, appeared to struggle not to roll her eyes at one of Ms Dorries’ answers. One viewer said on X: “I’ve got #channel4 and #BBC on at the same time and I’m sorry but our Nads getting ripped into by Alistair Campbell is brilliant.”Another said: “20 minutes into C4’s coverage and Alistair Campbell is telling Nadine Dorries to get over Boris Johnson & she’s accused him of making a sexist comment, long night ahead.”Other viewers were not as impressed by the clashes. One posted on X: “Get rid of her. Totally ruining your coverage. We’re not watching to watch her constantly argue with people”Another viewer added: “She’s constantly talking over others and not saying anything of substance. Cant stand her!”This comes as Labour is on course for one of the biggest Commons majorities in history with the official exit poll pointing to a crushing defeat for the Tories.Sir Keir Starmer’s party is expected to win 410 seats while Rishi Sunak’s Conservatives are set to fall to 131 seats, down from 365 five years ago when Boris Johnson secured a 80-seat majority. More

Support trulyindependent journalismFind out moreCloseOur mission is to deliver unbiased, fact-based reporting that holds power to account and exposes the truth.Whether $5 or $50, every contribution counts.Support us to deliver journalism without an agenda.Louise ThomasEditorThe former prime minister Theresa May has been given a peerage while the former environment secretary Therese Coffey has been handed a damehood in the dissolution honours list.Ms May, the former MP for Maidenhead, was nominated for a peerage by Rishi Sunak as No 10 made the surprise decision to announce the list on Thursday evening, less than an hour before the election polls closed.The former PM stood down at the general election after a career spanning 27 years in parliament. Announcing her decision to step back from politics, Ms May told the Maidenhead Advertiser she had taken the decision to “focus on causes close to her heart”, including her work on the Global Commission on Modern Slavery and Human Trafficking.Meanwhile, Alister Jack, the Scottish secretary, who admitted to placing three bets on the date of the general election, was given a knighthood. You can follow our liveblog here where we will update you on the election results seat by seat as they come inMr Jack revealed that he had placed three bets on the date of the election – one of which was successful – as the row over election betting engulfed the Tory party campaign. He made it clear that he had not breached any rules and was not being investigated by the Gambling Commission.Scottish Secretary Alister Jack has been awarded a knighthood More

Support trulyindependent journalismFind out moreCloseOur mission is to deliver unbiased, fact-based reporting that holds power to account and exposes the truth.Whether $5 or $50, every contribution counts.Support us to deliver journalism without an agenda.Louise ThomasEditorA bombshell exit poll has offered the first clue on how election night could unfold – and it looks like bad news for Rishi Sunak.A joint exit poll from the BBC, ITV and Sky News has predicted Sir Keir Starmer’s Labour Party will clinch a huge victory, predicting that Labour will win 410 seats, Tories 131, Lib Dems 61, Reform 13 and SNP 10.It is a stunning reversal in fortunes since the Tories won an 80-seat majority under Boris Johnson just under five years ago, in what was also Labour’s worst election result since 1935.At each of the past few elections, the exit poll has produced a very accurate projection of the actual result. At the last general election, in December 2019, the exit poll slightly overestimated the Conservatives’ win by three seats. It underestimated them by four seats in 2017, and by 15 seats in 2015. In 2005 and in 2010, the exit poll got the number of the leading party’s seats exactly right, first Labour and then the Conservatives.As counting begins at venues across the UK for all 650 seats, we want to know what you think. Do you agree with the exit polls? Or do you think there are still some shocks and surprises in store overnight? Share your election result predictions by adding them in the comments — we’ll highlight the most insightful ones as they come in.All you have to do is sign up and register your details — then you can take part in the discussion. You can also sign up by clicking ‘log in’ on the top right-hand corner of the screen.Make sure you adhere to our community guidelines, which can be found here. For a full guide on how to comment click here.Join the conversation with other Independent readers below. More

Support trulyindependent journalismFind out moreCloseOur mission is to deliver unbiased, fact-based reporting that holds power to account and exposes the truth.Whether $5 or $50, every contribution counts.Support us to deliver journalism without an agenda.Louise ThomasEditorA woman said to be affiliated with George Galloway’s Workers Party was allegedly assaulted outside a polling station in Rochdale.Greater Manchester Police said officers were called to reports of an assault on Victoria Street, in the town of Littleborough, just before 11.30am on Thursday as voters headed to cast their ballots in the general election.The force said in a statement: “A woman was assaulted by a male. No injuries were reported and no arrests have been made.”The Littleborough United Reformed Church, situated on Victoria Street, is being used as a polling station.Mr Galloway, the seven-time MP who is standing to retain the Rochdale seat he won in a February by-election, alleged: “Our female polling station attendant in Littleborough has just been brutally assaulted outside the polling station where no officer was in attendance.”The assault took place on Victoria Street, Greater Manchester Police said More

Sunak heads to polling station to cast vote in general electionSupport trulyindependent journalismFind out moreCloseOur mission is to deliver unbiased, fact-based reporting that holds power to account and exposes the truth.Whether $5 or $50, every contribution counts.Support us to deliver journalism without an agenda.Louise ThomasEditorMillions of people across the country are heading to polling stations to vote in a general election that could deliver a major shake-up of British politics and end 14 years of Conservative government. The prime minister was up early to cast his ballot alongside his wife Akshata Murty in his North Yorkshire constituency and Keir Starmer, who appeared all smiles, cast his ballot accompanied by his wife Victoria in London.Former Boris Johnson made an appearance in his constituency, where he urged supporters to vote against “nightmare” wokery and tax rises he claims would come with a future Labour government.Chancellor Jeremy Hunt pleaded with voters to re-elect him as he cast his ballot in Godalming and Ash, where he is fighting to defend his seat against the Lib Dems. A major poll for The Independent yesterday suggested Rishi Sunak would lead the Conservatives to the worst defeat in history with only 82 seats. If the forecast is accurate, Chancellor Jeremy Hunt and defence secretary Grant Shapps are among the veteran Conservatives set to be ousted.Sir Keir could enter the doors of Number 10 triumphant, with an unprecedented 272-seat majority behind him, polls suggest.Show latest update 1720082779Pinned: How to vote in the General Election – From finding a polling station to filling out your ballotOpinion polling has consistently suggested the election will mark the end of 14 years of Conservative governance, with Labour flying ahead in projected voting intention. Some surveys predict smaller parties including the Lib Dems, Greens and Nigel Farage’s Reform UK could pick up record numbers of seats.The true picture will remain unclear until Friday. Before that, the electorate must take to their local polling stations to cast their votes (if they have not done so already via a postal vote).To ensure everyone gets a fair and equal chance to participate in this democratic process, there are a number of rules in place, which must be followed in and around polling stations.Here’s everything you need to know about polling day:Salma Ouaguira4 July 2024 09:461720104219What is the exit poll and is it accurate?Exit polls take place at about 144 polling stations across the country, with tens of thousands of people asked to privately fill in a replica ballot as they leave, to get an indication of how they voted.Typically, fieldworkers of the polling company Ipsos Mori descend on the same polling stations at every election, these have been chosen to be demographically representative of the country, with rural and urban seats, and weighted slightly in favour of marginal areas.The accuracy of exit polls seems to have improved over time. In 1974, the first British exit poll predicted a Labour majority of 132, but the actual majority was three.But in each of the past few elections the exit poll, which is published shortly after 10pm, has produced a very accurate projection of the actual result.In 2015, the exit poll proved more accurate than opinion polls at the time, but it did not predict a Conservative majority.The accuracy of exit polls seems to have improved over time (Jane Barlow/PA) More

Sunak heads to polling station to cast vote in general electionSupport trulyindependent journalismFind out moreCloseOur mission is to deliver unbiased, fact-based reporting that holds power to account and exposes the truth.Whether $5 or $50, every contribution counts.Support us to deliver journalism without an agenda.Louise ThomasEditorThe UK heads to the polls on Thursday to cast their votes in a general election to set the country’s political trajectory over the next five years.While populist parties are enjoying success on mainland Europe, victory looks likely to go to the centre-left Labour Party, according to opinion polls during the campaign.Under Britain’s first-past-the-post electoral system, candidates who secure the most votes in each of the 650 races for a parliamentary seat automatically enter the House of Commons. The party which wins in a majority of constituencies secures the right to form a government.Following 14 years of Conservative rule, marked by austerity, Brexit, the Covid pandemic and an inflationary crisis, Sir Keir Starmer’s Labour Party has retained a commanding lead in polling over the course of the six-week campaign.Rishi Sunak is the third Tory leader since Britain’s last general election in 2019, having been installed by the party after the implosion of his predecessor Liz Truss’s premiership, who herself had taken over from Boris Johnson after he was ousted by MPs.Mr Sunak is battling to avoid a historic defeat, pre-election polls suggest, as he faces the fresh challenge of the ascendant hard-right Reform UK party, led by Brexit architect and former Ukip leader Nigel Farage.Show latest update 1720082779Pinned: How to vote in the General Election – From finding a polling station to filling out your ballotOpinion polling has consistently suggested the election will mark the end of 14 years of Conservative governance, with Labour flying ahead in projected voting intention. Some surveys predict smaller parties including the Lib Dems, Greens and Nigel Farage’s Reform UK could pick up record numbers of seats.The true picture will remain unclear until Friday. Before that, the electorate must take to their local polling stations to cast their votes (if they have not done so already via a postal vote).To ensure everyone gets a fair and equal chance to participate in this democratic process, there are a number of rules in place, which must be followed in and around polling stations.Here’s everything you need to know about polling day:Salma Ouaguira4 July 2024 09:461720104219What is the exit poll and is it accurate?Exit polls take place at about 144 polling stations across the country, with tens of thousands of people asked to privately fill in a replica ballot as they leave, to get an indication of how they voted.Typically, fieldworkers of the polling company Ipsos Mori descend on the same polling stations at every election, these have been chosen to be demographically representative of the country, with rural and urban seats, and weighted slightly in favour of marginal areas.The accuracy of exit polls seems to have improved over time. In 1974, the first British exit poll predicted a Labour majority of 132, but the actual majority was three.But in each of the past few elections the exit poll, which is published shortly after 10pm, has produced a very accurate projection of the actual result.In 2015, the exit poll proved more accurate than opinion polls at the time, but it did not predict a Conservative majority.The accuracy of exit polls seems to have improved over time (Jane Barlow/PA) More

Support trulyindependent journalismFind out moreCloseOur mission is to deliver unbiased, fact-based reporting that holds power to account and exposes the truth.Whether $5 or $50, every contribution counts.Support us to deliver journalism without an agenda.Louise ThomasEditorNo sitting prime minister has ever failed to win their seat at a general election – but the opinion polls this time around raise the question of what would happen if Rishi Sunak loses in Richmond.The constituency could be close, and a survey by Savanta has suggested that the Tory PM is on course to see the 27,000-strong majority in his North Yorkshire constituency overturned.A report claimed on Wednesday that the prime minister had confided to members of his inner circle that he was fearful of losing his seat, warning confidants that he believed the race in Richmond and Northallerton was too close to call.Follow our blog for the latest general election updatesCould Sunak remain PM even if he loses his seat?In the event of such an outcome being declared in the small hours of Friday, it is highly unlikely that Mr Sunak would stand down as prime minister prior to the final national election result being called later that day.According to the Institute for Government (IfG), precedent suggests that a prime minister should be an MP – but there is no suggestion that they must immediately resign if they lose their seat. Rishi Sunak and his wife Akshata Murty visit their polling station on Thursday More