Millions of people across the country are heading to polling stations to vote in a general election that could deliver the biggest shake-up of British politics. A major poll for The Independent 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. Mr Sunak is reported to be fearful about losing his own constituency in Richmond, but he insisted he was still in the fight after one of his closest allies, Mel Stride, appeared to concede the Tories were heading to a heavy defeat. The man who is looking most certain to replace him, Sir Keir Starmer, could enter the doors of Number 10 triumphant with an unprecedented 272-seat majority behind him, polls suggest. This will give Labour a landslide bigger than Tony Blair’s 1997 election result. Sir Keir said he was “ready for government” and his cabinet is waiting to “hit the ground running” if he is declared the new prime minister.
General election today latest news: Polls open to millions of voters across UK as Rishi Sunak and Keir Starmer to learn fate
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Millions of people across the country are heading to polling stations to vote in a general election that could deliver the biggest shake-up of British politics.
A major poll for The Independent 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.
Mr Sunak is reported to be fearful about losing his own constituency in Richmond, but he insisted he was still in the fight after one of his closest allies, Mel Stride, appeared to concede the Tories were heading to a heavy defeat.
The man who is looking most certain to replace him, Sir Keir Starmer, could enter the doors of Number 10 triumphant with an unprecedented 272-seat majority behind him, polls suggest.
This will give Labour a landslide bigger than Tony Blair’s 1997 election result.
Sir Keir said he was “ready for government” and his cabinet is waiting to “hit the ground running” if he is declared the new prime minister.
Key Points
Show latest update 1720072937
Good morning and happy polling day
After six weeks, the general election campaign has ended, and party leaders have made their final pitches to voters across the country. It is now the turn of the electorate to deliver the verdict.
Polling stations in 650 constituencies across England, Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland opened at 7am this morning. When the polls close in 15 hours, counting will begin straight away. At this point, broadcasters will announce the results of the combined BBC, ITV and Sky News exit poll.
We will then have to wait a few more hours until we find out if the predicted results are confirmed. Over the last four elections the survey has forecasted the size of the eventual majority with almost perfect accuracy.
At that moment, we will get the first proper preview of how the next Parliament could look like for at least the next four years.
Throughout the day we will be updating seat by seat until we have a clear picture of the full results.
Salma Ouaguira4 July 2024 07:02
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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.
A bombshell Techne survey for The Independent suggested he could be just one of many senior Tories at risk of losing their seats in the Commons.
According to various, the worst outcome put the Tories on course to drop below 100 seats, while the best-case scenario saw them winning just 126. This would far exceed the defeat faced by John Major in 1997, when the number of Conservative seats fell to 165.
(Jonathan Brady/PA Wire)
Salma Ouaguira4 July 2024 07:29
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Starmer issues last election bid in campaign video
Sir Keir Starmer has posted on social media campaign video as polls open in the UK general election.
With opinion polls suggesting a landslide victory for Labour, Starmer is expected to become the next UK prime minister.
Salma Ouaguira4 July 2024 07:20
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RSPB launches #BirdsAtPollingStations for social media
Conservation charity the RSPB is encouraging voters to use the hashtag #BirdsAtPollingStations if they spot any type of bird when they go to vote.
The idea is a variation on the #DogsAtPollingStations theme.
Charity bosses are urging social media users to share photos, videos and selfies from outside polling stations either with real birds or cuddly toys and use the #BirdsAtPollingStations hashtag.
Jane Dalton4 July 2024 07:15
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What are the dos and don’ts of election day?
With polling stations already open, many voters might be wondering about polling station etiquette. From taking selfies to telling others about how you voted, here’s everything you need to know.
You must vote at the polling station to which you have been assigned between 7am and 10pm today. If you are in a queue when the polls shut, you are still allowed to vote.
When you arrive, you will receive a ballot paper listing candidates and their respective parties in your constituency. You will have to take it to a screened booth where you will find a pencil to vote with. But you can use your one pen if you prefer.
If you make a mistake, you can ask for another ballot paper if you have not put it in the ballot box. Votes made with a tick or even a smiley face can be counted if the choice is clear, but if counting staff cannot read the ballot, it will be disqualified.
What can and can’t you do inside a polling station?
The general election is taking place on Thursday 4 July and hundreds of thousands of people are expected to be voting for the first time. It’s fair to say the polling station can be a little daunting if you’ve not been before, and there are a number of rules you need to follow when casting your ballot. Ahead of the election, it’s important to know the regulations around snapping selfies, tweeting and talking about politics. Here, The Independent takes a look at what you can and can’t do when voting.
The Electoral Commission advises against taking a selfie inside polling stations as it can risk accidentally giving away how someone else voted, which is against the law. But people are welcome to share pictures taken outside, even one with their dog. But you are not allowed to take pictures of the ballot paper you receive in a polling station, but you can photograph your postal ballot paper.
People can tell others how they voted, but only about their choice and not anyone else’s. The fine for revealing how another person voted is up to £5,000 or six months in prison.
However, people with a disability can have a presiding officer, a close family member aged 18 or over or an eligible voter to mark the paper for them. People with a visual impairment can ask for a device that allows them to mark their own ballot paper. A large print version is usually available at polling stations.
Salma Ouaguira4 July 2024 07:07
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Hundreds of misleading claims repeated on social media
Analysis conducted by Full Fact of Facebook posts by 1,540 parliamentary candidates from all parties has found more than 300 repeats of misleading claims:
Jane Dalton4 July 2024 06:58
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How to vote in the General Election: From finding a polling station to filling out your ballot
Here’s everything you need to know about polling day.
Shweta Sharma4 July 2024 06:50
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Nigel Farage labels Boris Johnson a ‘busted flush’ and makes bold election prediction
Nigel Farage labels Boris Johnson a ‘busted flush’
Shweta Sharma4 July 2024 06:30
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Channel 4 News free of watchdog investigation
Ofcom will not investigate Channel 4 News after Nigel Farage’s Reform UK claimed the broadcaster used an actor as a “plant” in its undercover investigation into his campaign.
The watchdog said it had received over 270 complaints about Channel 4 News’s programme in which a man named Andrew Parker was filmed using a racial slur for Rishi Sunak.
Ofcom said after assessing the complaints against the due accuracy, due impartiality and offence rules under the Broadcasting Code, “we have concluded that they do not raise substantive issues warranting further investigation”.
A spokesperson for Channel 4 News said it had strongly stood up for its “accurate, rigorous and duly impartial reporting, which speaks for itself”, adding: “Ofcom’s decision underscores the integrity of Channel 4 News’s journalism and high editorial standards. The programme will continue to refute any claims that we – or the production company we worked with – knew or paid the Reform UK canvasser, Mr Andrew Parker.
“We met Mr Parker for the first time at Reform UK’s campaign headquarters in Clacton, and he was filmed secretly via the undercover investigation.”
Jane Dalton4 July 2024 06:00
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If Boris Johnson is the Tories’ secret weapon, it’s a sign of how desperate they are
Jane Dalton4 July 2024 05:00
Read the full story on www.independent.co.uk
https://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/politics/general-election-vote-labour-sunak-polls-starmer-tory-b2573546.html