General election – live: Millions head to polls across UK to cast their votes
Rishi Sunak and Sir Keir Starmer have visited their polling stations, as has former PM Boris Johnson
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Millions 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.
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All eyes on Rishi Sunak’s Richmond and Northallerton seat
The prime minister is challenging for the Richmond and Northallerton seat in the Yorkshire Dales which he previously won in 2019 with a majority of more 27,000.
He has held the seat in the Yorkshire Dales since 2015, succeeding former Tory leader William Hague.
But members of Mr Sunak’s inner circle warned that he could lose in his constituency of Richmond and Northallerton, one of the safest Tory seats in the country.
Watch: Jeremy Hunt steps out of Range Rover to vote in general election
Jeremy Hunt steps out of Range Rover to vote in general election
Jeremy Hunt has been spotted heading to vote in the general election, despite admitting he could be first chancellor to lose seat in Godalming and Ash in Surrey. Mr Hunt appeared to step out of a nearby Range Rover as someone documented him heading to the polling station, wishing him “luck” as he went in. “I think you know who I’m going to vote for”, he told the camera. “Unfortunately all the good he has done at a local level has really been destroyed by his support for a toxic government,” Godalming resident Julian Humphrys, 66, said of Hunt to Reuters.
Election officers demand postal vote system to be overhauled
The Association of Electoral Administrators has demanded to overhaul Britain’s postal vote system.
The body, which represents electoral officers and administrators, has said the system is no longer adequate after widespread reports of delays in ballot paper deliveries.
Deputy chief executive Laura Lock said: “Election teams are doing their very best to run this snap election, but with a short timetable and an election held when many are on holiday – plus print and delivery suppliers working at capacity – demand has severely tested the system.”
She also urged for people who have not received their postal votes to be allowed emergency proxy votes on polling day.
Nigel Farage slams Sunak ‘is panicking’ amid bruising polling predictions
Nigel Farage dissed Rishi Sunak in a Facebook video posted earlier today, urging followers not to panic.
Speaking in what seems to be a food truck surrounded by various sauces and bread buns, he said: “But I think Rishi is panicking.”
The attack came after sources from Sunak’s inner circle said the PM is fearful of losing his seat in his Yorkshire constituency at the election. If his fear comes true, Mr Sunak would be the first sitting PM to lose his constituency.
An election eve poll for The Independent predicts a Tory wipeout, saying Sunak may only hold 82 seats in Parliament. Even worse, a mid-June poll suggested the PM might only retain 53 seats.
A separate June poll forecasts Mr Farage’s party to beat the Tories, with Reform UK’s popularity seemingly unaffected by Mr Farage’s previous comments about Putin and Ukraine.
Mr Sunak is rumoured to be considering a return to the finance industry regardless of his election results.
More dogs at polling stations
What is voter ID and which forms of identification can I use to vote in the General Election?
Voters have been required to bring photographic identification for certain elections in the UK since May 2023.
This came after parliament passed the Elections Act in April 2022, enacting a recommendation the Electoral Commission first made in 2014.
Voter ID is now required at by-elections and recall petitions, general elections, local elections and referendums in England, and Police and Crime Commissioner elections in England and Wales.
Voter ID: Which forms are acceptable to use to vote in the General Election today
Everything to know about the voter ID you need to vote in the General Election this Thursday
Watch: Count Binface promises 99 ice creams to remain 99p in election plea video
Count Binface promises 99 ice creams to remain 99p in election plea video
Count Binface has sent a message to the UK public as he stands as a candidate in the general election. Key points on his manifesto include limiting the price of a 99 ice cream to 99p, and former prime ministers will be expected to take part in the national service Rishi Sunak wants to introduce. “I promise at least one affordable house, which is more than the other parties can muster between them”, he says. Count Binface will be on the ballot paper for those living in Richmond and Northallerton.
Highest and lowest number of seats won by a single party
The highest number of seats won by a single party at an election since 1900 is 418, by Labour in 1997.
The second highest number is 412, won by Labour in 2001 and also by the Conservatives in 1924.
The fewest seats won by the Conservatives at any general election since the party was formally established in the 1830s is 156 in 1906, followed by 165 in 1997.
The Labour Party was founded in 1900 and won two seats in the general election of that year, followed by 29 at the next election in 1906.
Since 1945, the number of seats won by Labour has never dropped below 200.
A return to 1997? Yes please, it was one of the best years ever
It won’t be long before we find out if Starmer has delivered a 1997-style landslide for Labour, Richard Benson writes.
But, that year was exciting for more reasons than politics, says Richard Benson who, as the editor of ‘The Face’ during ‘Cool Britannia’, says we’ll be lucky to experience anything like it again.
He writes: “If there’s a difference, between then and now it’s in the mood. Post-pandemic, current-cost of living crisis, people are angrier and more bitter, and that feels intensified by social media, which expresses and fosters hate much better than it does laughter.
“By 1997, money had started to come back into the economy, and the ubiquitous spite of social media hadn’t poisoned the national mindset; where 2023 has furious memes, the 1990s had a Viz cartoon about a corrupt Tory called Baxter Basics.”
Read the full article here:
A return to 1997? Yes please, it was one of the best years ever
It won’t be long before we find out if Starmer has delivered a 1997-style landslide for Labour. But, that year was exciting for more reasons than politics, says Richard Benson who, as the editor of ‘The Face’ during ‘Cool Britannia’, says we’ll be lucky to experience anything like it again
Kemi Badenoch hits out at council over postal votes row
The business secretary has attacked her local council over missing postal votes after people reported delays in delivery and printing.
More than 2,600 paper ballots have been delayed in North West where Ms Badenoch is attempting to get re-elected.
The cabinet minister blasted local authorities and accused them of “forgetting to send ballot papers”.
Ms Badenoch said: “Five years ago, all but four Conservatives on Uttlesford council were voted out. People wanted ‘Change’. Instead, they got ‘Change for the WORSE’, electing an independent residents group who ran a blame-the-Tories campaign.
“The community is now saddled with council leadership unable to carry out basic functions competently. Now they’ve potentially disenfranchised up to 2,600 postal voters by FORGETTING to send them their ballot papers. Don’t change for the worse.”
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