[size=16pt]Polling stations open across England[/size]

Voting has begun in England in what is tipped to be the most closely-fought general election in recent years.

Polling stations around the country opened their doors at 0700 BST and will close at 2200 BST when most electoral teams will begin counting the

votes.

With polls indicating Britain could see a hung parliament, party leaders made a final push to win over undecided voters on Wednesday.

Votes are also being cast in local elections at more than 150 councils.

In total, 4,200 seats will be contested in about 3,000 wards across 166 English local authorities.

Electoral teams across the country are gearing up for a long night of counting.

In the constituency of Sunderland South, officers are hoping to become the first to declare results for a fifth year running.

Liverpool Riverside had the lowest voter turnout in 2001 and 2005

In 2005, it announced its MP just 44 minutes after the polls had closed.

In one North Yorkshire constituency voters face a three-week wait to cast their vote for their MP.

The election in Thirsk and Malton was halted in April when the UK Independence Party announced its candidate, John Boakes, had died.

Polling day for that constituency will now be 27 May.

One council with a huge job on its hands is Rushmoor Borough Council in Hampshire, which is co-ordinating voting for troops in Afghanistan.

me voted Labour. but i don't think they will win

I think I have sympathy for the Lib Dems. I pray they win.

Lib Dems have the weakest policies.

The party is just riding on the back Nick Klegs showmanship

candylips:

Lib Dems have the weakest policies.

The party is just riding on the back Nick Klegs showmanship

But truth be told, so does Cameron too.
He's not still told us where he will get his money from . . . and he's way too pro-upper middle class for me.

I voted Lib Dems, they got the youth vote.

I voted labour!

Labour will lose because Gordon is a full blooded scot,the difference is still very clear between the english and the scots

redsun:

Labour will lose because Gordon is a full blooded scot,the difference is still very clear between the english and the scots

While I have to agree that there is difference between the English and the Scot, I don't think that is the reason for Gordon's unpopularity. I think it is because he is not as charismatic as Tony Blair or David cameron. I do believe he is very competent though, perhaps the most competent of all the candidates. However, in attaining leadership, charisma will probably trump competence anyday!

Avenir:

While I have to agree that there is difference between the English and the Scot, I don't think that is the reason for Gordon's unpopularity. I think it is because he is not as charismatic as Tony Blair or David cameron.  I do believe he is very competent though, perhaps the most competent of all the candidates. However, in attaining leadership, charisma will probably trump competence anyday!

You are right but deep down,the scotish blood is a fundamental barrier as well as the open door immigration policy to every dic-k and harry in eastern europe who in most cases are more undeserving of a first world community than an average african or asian

redsun:

You are right but deep down,the scotish blood is a fundamental barrier as well as the open door immigration policy to every dic-k and harry in eastern europe who in most cases are more undeserving of a first world community than an average african or asian

If it is as simple, as the scot-english dichotomy, he'll have been ousted as the labour leader a long time ago. The other two major parties are not going to shut the door against eastern europeans either. They didn't say they were going to get out of EU. I still believe, this election was purely about charisma!

Exit Polls.

Con 307. Lab 255. LD 59.

Unbelievable, lib dem lose 3 seats. What happened to Clegg-mania

Cameron with the support of the Ulster Unionist can actually form a workable minority government. I think the polls underestimate lib dem seats, can't believe they would drop from 2005 figures.

It's just Exit Polls and still trending. Remember Lib Dems main supporters were youths. Lets just keep our fingers crossed. My main fair is Lib Demd & Tories doing collabo. I pray not

joeycrack:

Exit Polls.

Con 307. Lab 255. LD 59.

Unbelievable, lib dem lose 3 seats. What happened to Clegg-mania

Cameron with the support of the Ulster Unionist can actually form a workable minority government. I think the polls underestimate lib dem seats, can't believe they would drop from 2005 figures.

I won't trust an exit poll. I'll rather wait for the actual results!

Me and Wife voted for Conservatives  - My Local council is run by the Con and we have had lower council tax bills for years .  And also their policies this time favours immigrants

At the moment Lib Dem have the power, the must know they could never win, but they have the power to swing the election to either's favour. And I'm praying they pick Labour

blacksta:

Me and Wife voted for Conservatives  - My Local council is run by the Con and we have had lower council tax bills for years .  And also their policies this time favours immigrants

Which planet did you get this illusion from ?

Avenir:

If it is as simple, as the scot-english dichotomy, he'll have been ousted as the labour leader a long time ago. The other two major parties are not going to shut the door against eastern europeans either. They didn't say they were going to get out of EU. I still believe, this election was purely about charisma!  

Don't underestimate the english and scot rivalry,it is still burning like wild fire.Gordom brown is just as good as any good adminstrator in the present situation,yet he is not liked,

However,they could have controlled the mass eastern european movement just like other top european countries like germany and france did.Most of dem eastern blocans are complete pigs,undeserving of a civil and organized society yet they get the full rights of full fledge british inhabitants as soon as they come in on a platter without realizing how complex a civilize society is.

kadman:

Which planet did you get this illusion from ?

I wondering too . . .lol

kadman:

Which planet did you get this illusion from ?

Have you not been listening to cameron  - No party has claimed or will support an outright ban on migration - but a cap is so needed-  Cameron acknowledges that migrant workers are so important for the UK economy.  What the about the Con policy on No tax on one's first 10k earnings

Avenir:

I won't trust an exit poll. I'll rather wait for the actual results!  

True moreover it was wrong in predicting lib dem seats in 2005.

Anyone having an election party? Here with mates, lots of booze, food and election banter.

Labour just won the Houghton Sunderland seat. 1st to be declared

joeycrack:

True moreover it was wrong in predicting lib dem seats in 2005.

[b]Anyone having an election party? Here with mates, lots of booze, food and election bante[/b]r.

Ha Ha, lucky you. I'm stuck working on an assignment with Nigerians and a Turkish girl, all scared of being kicked out of the country if Tories enter  

blacksta:

Have you not been listening to cameron  - No party has claimed or will support an outright ban on migration - but a cap is so needed-  Cameron acknowledges that migrant workers are so important for the UK economy.  What the about the Con policy on No tax on one's first 10k earnings

Did you see the Lib Dem policy on immigration??
Getting immigrant to the Sunderlands and Hulls will help to halt congestion in the big cities and in a small way help to educate the other places on the importance of immigrant workers.
Besides, then it will help to even create jobs outside London and stop the fear of a population explosion in London.

joeycrack:

Labour just won the Houghton Sunderland seat. 1st to be declared

Yippe ! But that was kind of expected. I'm proud of all the North standing for Labour.

3rd time Sunderland is first to declare. The city is a mess but this they get right every time ?

London is tighter than lagos right now,no space.There is no place to compare london with,it is such a vibrant and jampacked city

kadman:

Ha Ha,  lucky you. I'm stuck working on an assignment with Nigerians and a Turkish girl, all scared of being kicked out of the country if Tories enter  

Hehe, jokes. Who does the house feel has the best immigration policy. Can the Tories 'artificial cap' work? is lib dems regional migration plausible?

Tories are bad news for immigrations o

Harriet Harman and Peter Mandelson suggest Brown will not budge and will try to hang on to power.

Exit Poll revised:

Con drop two to 305. Labour stay on 255. Lib Dem up to 61.

candylips:

Tories are bad news for immigrations o

Word. I keep explaining to people already in the country that it's not even only coming immigrants, there's just an air of oppression and inequality for minorities when Tory are in power. So those selfish people who already have their peoples are don't care - think again.

joeycrack:

Hehe, jokes. Who does the house feel has the best immigration policy. Can the Tories 'artificial cap' work? is lib dems regional migration plausible?

Regional Migration has some possibilities if immigrants are taught London is not the same as UK, which has other vast areas and opportunities.

Markets react:

Sterling fall as much as 0.8 percent versus the dollar as exit polls point to hung parliament. Also falling 0.5 percent to the euro.

Can't wait for the bond markets to open at 1 am.

joeycrack:

Harriet Harman and Peter Mandelson suggest Brown will not budge and will try to hang on to power.

Exit Poll revised:

Con drop two to 355. Labour stay on 255. Lib Dem up to 61.

Joey, you mean 305. Edit you post before you give ol' man heart attack

kadman:

Joey, you mean 305. Edit you post before you give ol' man heart attack

Yes brother! Edited. Don't kill yourself o, focus on your studies. If torys win, boys are hatching plans to cross over to Obama-land.


LABOUR HOLD WASHINGTON & SUNDERLAND WEST. 2-0 labour

Follow the elections: BBC/Guardian - http://www.guardian.co.uk/politics/2010/may/06/uk-election-results-2010-live
Channel 4: http://www.channel4.com/