UNLESS YOU’VE BEEN leaving under a rock, you’ll probably know that the UK is voting in a general election.
Voting is still ongoing until polls close at 10pm when 650 constituencies will, literally in some cases, race to complete the count.
The results always comes thick and fast with the first-past-the-post system making it much easier to count than is the case in Ireland.
So, if you’re one of the people planning an all-nighter tonight to watch the results roll in, this is when we should expect to know each result and when the overall picture should be clear.
10pm
The polling stations close and this is followed immediately by the publication of the exit poll.
The exit poll will be announced live on the BBC, ITV and Sky News and will offer the first clues as to how the night will unfold.
If the exit poll shows a decisive winner then we will likely get to know the identity of the British prime minister and how strong their position is.
At each of the past few elections, the exit poll has produced a very accurate projection of the actual result produced some memorable moments.
By 11pm
Two constituencies are racing to be first to declare: Houghton & Sunderland South and Newcastle-upon-Tyne Central.
Both results are expected around 11pm and both are safe Labour seats, so it will be the change in Labour’s share of the vote – and the size of a potential swing to the Conservatives – that will be most useful in providing further clues to the overall election result.
There should also be the first indications of turnout.
By midnight
Four more safe Labour seats are likely to have declared, all in north-east England. Again, look out for any evidence of a change in Labour’s vote share and a possible swing to the Conservatives.
By 1am
Workington could be the first seat of the night to change hands. If the Conservatives take it from Labour, Boris Johnson might be on course for a comfortable majority in the new parliament.
If Labour holds on, the overall result could be a lot closer. So if you’re looking for a really good indication of how things are going before going to bed, this is probably a good cut off point.
Around this time, North Down should also be the first result of the night from Northern Ireland – a seat formerly held by the Independent MP Sylvia Hermon, and being targeted at this election by the DUP, the Ulster Unionists and the Alliance.
By 2am
Results will start to pick up. If Labour is doing well, they may take Carlisle, Putney, Thurrock and Vale of Glamorgan from the Conservatives.
If Labour is doing badly, they could see the likes of Stockton South, Wrexham and West Bromwich West being gained by the Tories.
Welsh independence party Plaid Cymru will hope to hold Arfon and Dwyfor Meirionnydd, while the DUP will be looking to keep Lagan Valley, Londonderry East and Strangford.
The first results will come from Scottish seats being defended by the SNP, such as Dunbartonshire West and Lanark & Hamilton East.
By 3am
A flood of results is expected. Former Tory MP Dominic Grieve is hoping to win Beaconsfield as an Independent.
The Lib Dems will want to hold Brecon & Radnorshire, which they gained from the Conservatives earlier in the year, and retake Nick Clegg’s former seat of Sheffield Hallam from Labour.
Labour might defeat Iain Duncan Smith in Chingford & Woodford Green, while the Lib Dems could take Esher & Walton from Dominic Raab.
The result is also due from Dartford, a bellwether seat since 1964.
The SNP have their eyes on the Tory seats of Ochil & Perthshire South and Stirling.
If Labour is having a good night, they will be making gains in places like Telford and Worcester. If the Tories are performing well, they will hope to take seats like Great Grimsby (a Labour seat since 1945), Bishop Auckland (Labour seat since 1935) and Don Valley (Labour since 1922).
Jeremy Corbyn’s result in Islington North is due, as is Jo Swinson’s result in Dunbartonshire East. Sinn Féin will also be hoping to keep their marginal seat Foyle.
By 4am
Over half of the results will be in, and the overall trend of the night should be clear.
Labour targets such as Harrow East, Loughborough and Milton Keynes South will declare, likewise Lib Dem targets like St Albans and Cheltenham. All are being defended by the Conservatives.
Labour will hope to hold the ultra-marginal seats of Canterbury and Crewe & Nantwich, as well as Ipswich, Lincoln and Rother Valley, which are all Tory targets. Plaid Cymru is defending Ceredigion against challenges from the Lib Dems, Labour and the Tories.
The SNP will hope to hold Fife North East and with a larger margin than they managed in 2017, when they had a majority of just two. The Ulster Unionists are hoping to take Fermanagh & South Tyrone from Sinn Fein.
By 5am
Anna Soubry should have discovered whether she’s been able to hold Broxtowe for the Change party.
Boris Johnson should also know whether he’s safely back in Uxbridge & South Ruislip, where he won only a slim majority over Labour in 2017.
Kensington, another of Labour’s ultra-marginals, should have declared by now, although the result in 2017 needed several recounts and wasn’t confirmed until nearly 24 hours after polls closed.
By 6am
Result should have slowed to a trickle. A handful of seats in London could deliver some late upsets: Labour is hoping to take Chipping Barnet and Hendon from the Conservatives, while the Liberal Democrats could unseat the Tories in Finchley & Golders Green and Richmond Park. The Lib Dems are also eyeing the Tory seat of Wells.
By 7am
Caroline Lucas will have discovered if she has been re-elected as the Green MP for Brighton Pavilion.
By 10am
There is the possibility of some very late gains for the Lib Dems in south-west England, who are hoping to defeat the Tories in Cornwall North, St Austell & Newquay and St Ives. Recounts could delay some of the declarations from earlier, but every seat is due to begin counting overnight so there is a good chance all 650 results will be in by mid-morning.
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