York election night – As it happened
What York’s winners said
After winning York Central, Labour’s Rachael Maskell said:
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Although disappointed bitterly by the results I see across the nation, because we come into politics to make a difference for people, I vow that I will continue to fight for my constituents with every bone in my body to ensure that their lives improve here in York now and in the future.
In his speech after retaining York Outer, Julian Sturdy said:
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We have to make sure that, here in York, we build on our local successes.
I want to make sure that we continue to build on the infrastructure projects we’ve delivered, make sure we deliver on the A64.
Johnson romps home with ‘powerful new mandate to get Brexit done’
Boris Johnson hailed his “powerful new mandate to get Brexit done” as his party romped to victory in the 2019 General Election, writes the Press Association.
The Tory landslide prompted Jeremy Corbyn to announce he will not lead Labour into another election after his party suffered humiliation.
Lib Dem leader Jo Swinson also lost her seat to the SNP, who made further inroads in Scotland.
But the big winner was Mr Johnson as the Tories won seat after seat in Labour’s heartlands.
With over 600 seats declared, the PA news agency was predicting a Tory majority of 76.
Mr Corbyn admitted it had been a “very disappointing” night.
The anti-war campaigner, who has represented Islington North since 1983, ran as an outside candidate for the party leadership in 2015 and managed to outlast two Tory prime ministers.
But facing his second General Election defeat, Mr Corbyn said that he would call it a day as leader as he was re-elected in his London seat.
He said he would discuss with the party how to ensure there was a “process of reflection “.
“I will lead the party during this period to ensure this discussion takes place.”
The mood at Mr Johnson’s count was much more upbeat as he declared: “It does look as though this One Nation Conservative government has been given a powerful new mandate to get Brexit done.”
He added: “Above all I want to thank the people of this country for turning out to vote in a December election that we didn’t want to call but which I think has turned out to be a historic election that gives us now, in this new government, the chance to respect the democratic will of the British people to change this country for the better and to unleash the potential of the entire people of this country.
“And that is what we will now do, and if we are lucky enough to be returned, as the exit polls seem to suggest, then that work will begin tomorrow… or as I should say, not tomorrow, today!”
Mr Corbyn’s party, which had 243 MPs when Parliament was dissolved last month, was heading for its worst result since 1935 after support crumbled in its so-called ‘red wall’ of formerly safe seats across the north, the Midlands and Wales.
Some pictures from the count
The York Outer results chart
The York Central votes chart
Result: Julian Sturdy holds York Outer
He’s still the only person to ever represent York Outer. Julian Sturdy retains the seat for the Conservatives, after first being elected to the seat when it was first created in 2010.
Keith Aspden (Lib Dem) 9,992
Scott Marmion (Ind) 692
Anna Perrett (Labour) 17,339
Julian Sturdy (Con) 27,324
Result: Rachael Maskell holds York Central
York Central is a Labour hold.
Rachael Maskell has held the seat.
York Central results have been declared, Rachael Maskell has been re-elected with 27,312 votes.#ElectionResults2019 pic.twitter.com/pmqWbF1HFq
— City of York Council (@CityofYork) December 13, 2019
More Yorkshire results
Here’s more Yorkshire results, via Battle For Yorkshire.
Labour holds Doncaster North and Doncaster Central – reduced majorities in both cases.
Greg Knight increases his majority and holds Yorkshire East for the Conservatives – 33,988 votes tonight aginst 31,442 in 2017
Jeremy Corbyn to go – but not yet
After being returned as MP for Islington North, Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn has described the 2019 General Election outcome as “very disappointing” and said he will not lead the party in any future election campaign.
But he says a discussion will take place as to what happens next.
This from York Lib Dem candidate James Blanchard
Questions to which the answer is "loads" https://t.co/fxh4dPtCUm
— James Blanchard #fbpe (@jamesblanchard) December 13, 2019
Results from elsewhere in Yorkshire
Here’s a round-up of other recent Yorkshire results, via the ‘Battle For Yorkshire’ blog on The Yorkie:
Karl Turner hangs onto John Prescott’s old Hull East seat for Labour – with a much-reduced majority. Down from 21,355 to 12,713.
Labour holds Sheffield Brightside and Hillsborough with a majority of 22,369 against 28,193 in 2017
In Leeds East, Fabian Hamilton holds the seat for Labour, but with his majority slashed from 33,436 in to 2017 to 19,464
The Conservatives hold Scarborough and Whitby – with an increased majority for Robert Goodwill
Labour holds Rotherham but, as we’re seeing elsewhere, with a reduced majority – down from 21,404 in 2017 to 14,736 tonight
David Davis holds onto Haltemprice and Howden and his hefty majority – but arrives too late to hear the announcement.
A Conservative hold for Harrogate and Knaresborough. Andrew Jones has had his 31,477 majority reduced a tad to 29,962 but still a very safe seat for the Conservatives.
Recap: How York Outer voted in 2017
In York Outer in 2017 there was a turnout of 76% (57,573 votes cast). This was the result:
Recap: How York Central voted in 2017
We could still be an hour away from the results here in York. So here’s a good chance to recall how the city voted at the last general election in 2017.
In York Central, on a 69% turnout (total votes 53,301), this was the result:
Video – Green Party’s Tom Franklin: ‘I am extremely worried for the future of the country’
Tom Franklin, the Green Party candidate for York Central, didn’t mince his words in this interview with York St John University’s April Coward and Victoria Cotton.
Of the prospect of a Conservative majority government headed by Boris Johnson, he said:
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I am extremely worried for the future of the country.
We’re in a climate emergency and the Conservative Party is not taking it seriously – and we’re in severe danger of not meeting any of our international targets…
Brexit is going to be a disaster in itself, but the climate emergency is going to make that look like chicken feed.
More from Chloe on the political beat
Local democracy reporter Chloe Laversuch has been gauging more responses around the count.
"The Conservative government is going to have to put its money where its mouth is in the north and that's a positive," – says Julian Sturdy, York Outer Conservative candidate – he says increasing the Conservative MPs in the region will help the north #GeneralElection2019
— Chloe Laversuch (@ChloeLaversuch) December 13, 2019
Keith Aspden, Lib Dem candidate for York Outer, says he is hoping to increase the Lib Dem share of the vote in the constituency but is not expecting to take the seat off the Conservatives – after an "intense fight" for the seat #GeneralElection2019 #LDReporter
— Chloe Laversuch (@ChloeLaversuch) December 13, 2019
Fabia Tate, the Conservative York Central candidate, tells me the campaign has been really positive – she says she's hoping to narrow the Labour majority in York Central #GeneralElection2019
— Chloe Laversuch (@ChloeLaversuch) December 13, 2019
Speaking about the exit poll, she said: "We're all pretty excited, there were definitely a lot of celebrations when they came out. I think probably the result won't be reflected in York Central but I've got my fingers crossed." #GeneralElection2019
— Chloe Laversuch (@ChloeLaversuch) December 13, 2019
Video: Keith Aspden – People felt revoke policy ‘didn’t give them a chance to engage in debate’
City of York Council leader and Liberal Democrat candidate for York Outer Keith Aspden has given his first reaction of the unfolding election results.
He said it was pretty clear that we were heading for a “pretty big Conservative majority”.
“For me that means the Conservatives have an awful lot to live up to, particularly for investment in places like York, Yorkshire and the North.”
He said the exit polls were showing the Lib Dems gaining one seat and an increase in their share of the vote – “it’s a step forward”.
Was the policy commitment to revoke Article 50 and stop Brexit a mistake?
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On the doorstep a lot of people were saying they felt that simply saying we would revoke didn’t give people an opportunity to engage in that debate.
Of course that policy was only if we got a majority government, and of course we were not going to get a majority government. We always were campaigning for a people’s vote to remain.
On the Lib Dem leader Jo Swinson he noted that she was in danger of losing her Dunbartonshire East seat.
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For any new Liberal Democrat leader it invariably takes quite a few elections for them to establish themselves.
Turnout for York Outer much higher than York Central
Turnout in the York Outer constituency is much higher than in York Central – 74.44%.
There were 55,588 votes cast from an electorate of 74,673.
That’s in line with 2017 when the York Outer turnout was 75%.
But it is far higher than in York Central at 66.38%.
This from City of York Council give the turnout from 2017 as a comparison:
Interested in how this election's results will compare to the General Eelction in 2017?
View the previous GE stats here: https://t.co/m89vJw4EFy pic.twitter.com/YuUBY5Puwz— City of York Council (@CityofYork) December 13, 2019
York Central turnout announced
The York Central turnout has just been announced by acting returning officer Ian Floyd – it was 66.38%.
The number of ballot papers is 49,717 from a total electorate of 74,899.
How democratic is York?
York resident and open government campaigner Gwen Swinburn makes a strong point here…
Why not give democracy a proper chance in York? Let’s have York North & South or East and West.@cityofyork @ConservativesYO @labouryork @yorklibdems @YorkGreens @minsterfm @theyorkmix @ChloeLaversuch pic.twitter.com/QPbK8cOIfa
— Gwen Swinburn (@GSwinburn) December 13, 2019
The counters are verifying the votes
Staff at Energise in York are hard at work verifying the votes. When that’s done we should get the turnout figure, then the real count will begin
Staff are busy verifying the votes @energiseyork #ElectionResults2019 pic.twitter.com/kQk5qT4uhJ
— City of York Council (@CityofYork) December 12, 2019
‘People wanted to get Brexit done’
York local democracy reporter Chloe Laversuch has been gauging reaction from politicians at the count.
Fabia Tate, the Conservative York Central candidate, tells me the campaign has been really positive – she says she's hoping to narrow the Labour majority in York Central #GeneralElection2019
— Chloe Laversuch (@ChloeLaversuch) December 13, 2019
Conservative councillor Martin Rowley tells me: "If the exit polls are right then it means that people wanted to get Brexit done. We focused on getting Julian Sturdy re-elected [to York Outer] and it's early days but it looks like it's going to happen." #GE2019
— Chloe Laversuch (@ChloeLaversuch) December 12, 2019
In the May local elections the Conservatives lost seats to the Lib Dems in York – Cllr Rowley said: "It shows that in May when we lost 12 seats locally, that was a protest vote." #GeneralElection2019
— Chloe Laversuch (@ChloeLaversuch) December 12, 2019
He added: "I think if I were a Labour activist I would be more cross with the Lib Dems and the campaign they ran locally in York Outer." #GeneralElection2019
— Chloe Laversuch (@ChloeLaversuch) December 12, 2019
Rachael Maskell, York Central Labour candidate , tells me she is "deeply concerned" about the national exit poll – which predicts a big majority for the Conservatives – but she says "obviously it's not the end result, it's just a poll" #GE2019
— Chloe Laversuch (@ChloeLaversuch) December 12, 2019
Video: Julian Sturdy – ‘I’ve got a big smile on my face’
Conservative Julian Sturdy, fighting to retain his York Outer seat, has told YorkMix of his reaction to the exit poll, predicting a healthy Conservative majority.
He said:
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I’ve got a big smile on my face. Early days I would say, but at the moment the first few results we’ve seen come in – Blyth Valley as one that’s just swung our way which is fantastic news, and looking about a ten per cent swing from Labour – if that continues through the night then the exit polls are going to be about spot on.
He said Brexit was a key issue – people wanting to get Brexit over had come up on the doorstep.
“And Boris Johnson has cut through parts of the north where, previous Conservative leaders haven’t”.
In the campaign for York Outer, Mr Sturdy said:
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Certainly early on the Lib Dems have pushed hard – they’ve put a lot of literature through the letterboxes – those residents of York Outer will be nodding in agreement I’m sure of that.
But what I found most striking – and what we’ve tried to do in our campaign is make sure we’re out on the doorstep talking to people.
Early York Twitter reaction
Here are some reactions from the frontline today. This from the independent candidate for York Outer, Scott Marmion:
Just had a thought, the Tory landslide has one serious downside. The person most responsible for this election needing to be called in the first place will retain her seat. You can guess who that is for yourselves.
— Scott Marmion (@MarmionScott) December 12, 2019
This from York For Europe, who tried a ‘vote swap’ between the Lib Dems and Labour in York Outer and Harrogate:
All week kept saying to Remainers that just because we don't understand Boris Johnson, doesn't mean he's not popular & we shouldn't underestimate that other people see something in him we don't. Bit like Mrs Brown's Boys!
— York for Europe (@York4EU) December 12, 2019
This from Andrew Dunn, SDP candidate for York Outer:
Are you watching???? @ul_ssps @UoL_CSS!!!! #GE2019 #GeneralElection2019 #Exitpoll #StandUpToBullying https://t.co/OfVfJXldz5
— Andrew Dunn (@AndrewD14920764) December 12, 2019
Students cover the election across Yorkshire
Around 70 Journalism and Media Production students and staff from York St John University are gearing up to cover the General Election this week, producing through-the-night programming under the banner ‘The Battle for Yorkshire’.
The mammoth operation will be the biggest news challenge the team has ever faced and will include producing TV and radio programmes pre- and post- election and a through-the-night live news feed as results come in.
All the content will be available to watch online through The Yorkie, the public-facing news website produced by our journalism students, and shared with local and national media through BJTC (Broadcast Journalism Training Council) media partners.
Student journalists will be reporting from vote counts in York and Hull, and picking up other Yorkshire results as they’re announced.
Sue Greenwood, Associate Head: Production in the School of the Arts, is leading the operation and said: “The enthusiasm of students and staff wanting to get involved is extraordinary.
“This is the busiest week of the semester for everyone but here they are – taking on extra work and pitching in to cover three production shifts. I think our students especially realise how important this election is and that this may be a one-off opportunity for them to be at the heart of reporting on it.”
We’re working together with YSJ students – including April Coward and Victoria Cotton, who are covering the York count, and will be including some of their reports on our blog.
Video: Rachael Maskell reacts to the exit poll
The exit poll is predicting a thumping 86 seat majority for the Conservatives.
Rachael Maskell, the Labour candidate for York Central, says it looks like a bad day for the Labour Party.
She said a Conservative government wasn’t going to address the problems facing York.
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I’ll continue, as I have been doing over the past four and a half years fighting for the people of this city, making sure that they have a real voice in their futures and the future of politics.
And within the Labour Party I’ll make sure their voice is amplified, but also within Parliament.
Did the exit poll surprise her? “Obviously for quite some time I’ve been worried by the impact of populism and the way that’s been playing, and the media messaging as well.”
What does she feel about Jeremy Corbyn’s position as leader?
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I don’t think any rash decisions should be taken. What’s really important is to do the analysis first.
But clearly if we are as a party going to move into a new era we’re going to have to think who is the right person to take us into that era.
I don’t want to make any speculations tonight, I don’t think that’s appropriate. But we’ve got to get this right.
The first ballot boxes have arrived at the York count
The count is underway at Election 19 in York.
The first ballot boxes arrived at Energise leisure centre on Cornlands Road shortly after the polls closed at 10pm.
We have been told to expect the results at around 4am.