General Election, 4 July 2024 - MP changes

[whole diary]

[JayMac]

Obligatory photo.

[Chris from Nailsea]

I did get out there today and VOTE! 

Timings were purely coincidental, but it turned out to be a rather busy lunch hour for me.  I drove to my polling station in Nailsea and parked outside the adjoining pub.  Walking into the polling station, I saw Sir Liam Fox (Con), so I approached him, we shook hands and exchanged pleasantries.

Having cast my vote, I then thought it would perhaps be tactful to buy a pint in the pub where I'd parked.  On entering the pub, there were Sadik Al-Hassan (Lab) and his family, having lunch.  We exchanged pleasantries.

What I found surprising, though, was that with the whole of the North Somerset constituency to cover, both of those candidates had chosen Nailsea for lunchtime.

I will discover tomorrow what effect my vote had on the outcome.

Meanwhile, I would like to endorse grahame's exhortation to please, get out there and VOTE !

 

[Chris from Nailsea]

My bet with grahame could be at risk: see https://www.bristolpost.co.uk/news/bristol-news/general-election-2024-could-see-9383795

 

[JayMac]

Where Finn leads others follow. Here's Glastonbury & Somerton constituency LibDem candidate Sarah Dyke stopping off in Templecombe on her tour of polling stations.

[grahame]

Been a quiet day in the Coffee Shop - perhaps because it's Independence Day?   Or, rather, Election Day.  I will probably be up all night and perhaps odd posts her.  I do remember expectation that Neil Kinnock would beat John Major in - was it - around 1996 but that didn't happen.  So tonight's expectation many not come about. Let's see.

[Chris from Nailsea]

I'll probably be around for a while, too ... 

I was amazed to meet both our Conservative and Labour candidates here in Nailsea at lunch time, when they have the whole of North Somerset to cover.

Neil Kinnock, good politician though he was, was on a loser: he was up against Margaret Thatcher and John Major. 

[grahame]

Obligatory photo.

From the BBC^» (British Broadcasting Corporation - home page)

Our reporting on polling day is restricted to uncontroversial factual accounts, which is why you're seeing a lot of pets today.

[Timmer]

I shall see the BBC^» (British Broadcasting Corporation - home page)’s exit poll in just under 15 minutes time, then turn in for the night and resume early tomorrow morning.

[JayMac]

I'll be following the results on the BBC^» (British Broadcasting Corporation - home page) until my eyelids get too heavy. Hoping to see a few Portillo moments. Whilst the result may be a foregone conclusion there are still many variables to make for an interesting watch. Which big names will be given the order of the boot? How big a majority will there be. How will the smaller parties fair?

[grahame]

Exit poll suggets 410 labour, cons 131, libs 61, reform 13, green 2, SNp 10, PC 4

[JayMac]

No great surprise from the exit poll. Sadly we can expect a lot of noise from the party that is predicted to win 13 seats.

[Kernow Otter]

And maybe 25% of the national vote.....

[grahame]

The exit poll was so definite and I fell asleep until just now.  Not sure if anyone else has a cup of coffee in front of them. Jeremy Corbyn and Nigel Farage in, Grant Shapps out.   Doulas Alexander back.   Some interesting speeches.

[JayMac]

At 4.40am Rishi Sunak concedes to Sir Kier Starmer.

Congratulations to Sarah Dyke, LibDem in my constituency, Glastonbury & Somerton.

I note grahame, that Melksham & Devives has gone to the LibDems too.

[grahame]

At 4.40am Rishi Sunak concedes to Sir Kier Starmer.

Congratulations to Sarah Dyke, LibDem in my constituency, Glastonbury & Somerton.

I note grahame, that Melksham & Devives has gone to the LibDems too.

Congrats to Andrew Murrison, holding Wiltshire South West (Trowbridge, Westbury, Dilton Marsh, Warmister) for the Conservatives and to Brian Mathew for his election for Melksham and Devizes (and Bradford-on-Avon and Avoncliff) , and to Sarah Gibson for taking the Chippenham Seat.
 
Wera Hobhouse has held Bath, and Dan Norris won in Somerset North East (Freshford and Keynsham). A flood of Lib Dem gains in Somerset.  Awaiting Salisbury, Frome [update LD], and East Wiltshire. Swindon North and South are now both Labour.

From the BBC^» (British Broadcasting Corporation - home page) - most arrogant speech - Ian Duncan Smith.  Most appropriate - Rishi Sunak and perhaps Penny Mourdant.  Impressed by speech from Jeremy Corbyn; there are a number who I may disagree with but for whom I have huge respect and admiration.