Follow what happens at the Isle of Wight General Election count. Taking place from 10pm on Thursday 4th July 2024. The declaration of who will be elected in the two new Isle of Wight constituencies (East and West) is expected around 3am.
Refresh this page for regular updates.
06:04
One final thought before I close my laptop – With both MPs also being Isle of Wight councillors, will we be seeing two by-elections in the near future?
Night all!
05:45
See the individual posts about the East and West winners to see brief videos from the two new MPs for the Isle of Wight.
Thanks to the media team for looking after us, but Isle of Wight council – please next time sort out a proper ethernet internet connection for all media. Uploading photos, videos, interviews, or live streaming was severely hampered.
Thank you very much to Allan Marsh for shooting photos all night for us. You’re an absolute star Allan.
That’s all from us folks. Don’t expect much from us on Friday – we’ll be mostly sleeping.
04:32
Joe Robertson has been elected as MP for Isle of Wight East.
- 1st Joe Robertson (Conservative): 10,427 (30.60%)
- 2nd Sarah Morris (ReformUK): 7,104 (20.85%)
- 3rd Vix Lowthion (Green): 6,313 (18.53%)
- 4th Emily Brothers (Labour): 6,264 (18.38%)
- 5th Michael Lilley (LibDem): 3,550 (10.42%)
- 6th David Groocock (Independent): 420 (1.23%)
04:20
The internet connection here is absolutely dreadful – hoping to upload a video shortly of a brief chat with Richard following the announcement.
04:11
Richard Quigley, ‘a chip shop owner’ in Cowes (this was used as a slur against RQ during the election campaign), has made history by becoming the first Labour MP on the Isle of Wight.
03:43
High Sheriff Graham Biss makes the announcement that Richard Quigley of Labour Party has been elected MP for Isle of Wight West with 13,240 votes.
The turnout for Isle of Wight West was 62.03% with 34,368 ballot papers returned.
- 1st Richard Quigley (Labour): 13,240 (38.61%)
- 2nd Robert Seely (Conservative): 10,063 (29.35%)
- 3rd Ian Pickering (Reform): 5,834 (17.01%)
- 4th Nick Stuart (LibDem): 2,726 (7.95%)
- 5th Cameron Palin (Green): 2,310 (6.74%)
- 6th Rachel Thacker (ADF): 117 (0.34%)
03:39
The candidates and agents for Isle of Wight West have been told the provisional result and are gathering near the stage. There are hushed tones in the hall as everyone else eagerly awaits the result. Formal announcement imminent.
02:50
Isle of Wight West could be getting closer to completing the count.
Isle of Wight East looks to be some way off from completing.
02:26
Chatting to David Groocock, independent candidate in the East, about how he found the process – he said he was glad he had taken part and thought that he’d picked up a few votes. He didn’t think he was going to win, but had entered to draw attention to Ventnor’s predicament, cut off from Shanklin, due to the current closure of Leeson Road. He said this certainly isn’t the end, with more action planned.
02:21
Isle of Wight West Labour candidate, Richard Quigley, has arrived.
02:05
Conservative West candidate, Bob Seely, has arrived. He told the media he’s not wanting to talk and will probably go straight home after. He’s looking very stern faced.
01:51
Ballot boxes for Isle of Wight East are now being mixed before counting proper begins.
01:30
The turnout for Isle of Wight East is 61.14% with 34,149 ballot papers.
Across the two Isle of Wight constituencies, of a possible 110,261 votes there have been 68,517 ballot papers returned – 61.585% turnout.
In 2019 the turnout was 65.9%.
01:18
Boxes are now being mixed. Counters are told, ‘A singular tick will be accepted in place of a cross.’
01:08
A mini count – with a mix of boxes from across the West region is now starting. The reason the boxes are mixed is so a voting pattern for an area cannot be identified.
These are being counted face up, in candidate order. Those figures from the mini count will then go back to the central area to be collated to form the total number.
01:00
Counters for the West area being called back to the hall to start the count proper.
00:39
Isle of Wight West had a 62.03% turnout, with 34,368 ballot papers.
Isle of Wight East ballot papers are still being counted.
00:35
The West side has nearly finished the ‘verification’ stage (checking that the number of ballot papers is as expected), so most of the counters have left for a short break, before returning.
00:25
The press team say there are 19 members of the media here – a record turnout.
00:17
Former Isle of Wight council CEO, John Metcalfe, is here on the top table with council officers. He left the council in 2022 to take up the top spot at Cumbria County Council and is here tonight to ‘help out’.
00:12
Libdem West candidate, Nick Stuart, is now in the hall arrived.
00:01
Ballot papers are still being counted – just to see whether the numbers match ballot papers issued to each polling station. They are not being sorted into actual votes yet.
23:40
Green Party (East) candidate Vix Lowthion, now in the hall.
23:30
There’s a police officer in the hall for the count – as there is at all of the counts across the country – they’re just here as a presence, unless something kicks off (not that thet is likely).
IW East Liberal Democrat candidate, Michael Lilley, also now in the hall.
23:19
All the counters are paid for their time. The council receive a grant from the Government for the election to cover the costs.
The counters volunteer to take part and are mostly made up of current council staff and former council staff. If not enough counters come forward, invitations are sent out to bank staff.
23:05
IW East Conservative candidate, Joe Robertson, also now spotted in the hall.
23:00
If you haven’t already seen, exit polls nationally predict a Labour landslide with 410 seats; Conservatives with 131 seats; 61 seats for the LibDems; 13 for Reform; 10 for the SNP and25 others.
Also being counted tonight are by-election ballot papers for Shalfleet East (from the West ward) and Ventnor West (in the East ward).
22:58
Postal votes being counted still
22:48
Spotting a number of the candidates are already in the hall –
Ian Pickering (West-Reform); Cameron Palin (West-Green); David Groocock (East-Indie); Sarah Morris (East-Reform); Rachel Thacker (West-ADF).
22:40
Based on the figures from the last election, there is an assumption that there’ll be about 8,000 postal votes in each constituency.
Each party, as well as East Wight Primary have counting agents present, who wander around the hall observing the ballot papers being sorted.
22:33
Counters are armed with snacks for the night shift, which is expected to last around five hours.
22:28
Allan Marsh LRPS is with us this evening (Thanks Allan!), shooting photos tonight.
Postal vote ballot papers being counted as part of the initial verification process.
22:20
The postal vote ballot boxes are being brought into the hall.
The hall (Medina Leisure Centre sports hall) where the votes are being counted has been split to East and West.
22:15
Claire Shand, the Returning Officer, reminds those counting votes that the most important thing is accuracy.
Media are OK to have phones to take photos & record video, but others are reminded that they can’t have their phones on in the hall.
22:10
All the volunteers who will be counting the ballot papers have started to arrive.
18:48
Going for a nap now, check back after 10pm for regular updates throughout the night.
18:42
Find out what happens to your ballot paper.
18:31
The Isle of Wight candidates standing in the General Election 2024 – mouseover to see links to relevant websites.
Isle of Wight East
- Emily Brothers (Labour) See her Facebook page
- David Groocock (Independent) See his Facebook group
- Michael Lilley (LibDem) See his website
- Vix Lowthion (Green) See her website
- Sarah Morris (ReformUK) See her website
- Joe Robertson (Conservative) See his website
Isle of Wight West
- Cameron Palin (Green) See his Facebook page
- Ian Pickering (ReformUK) See his website
- Richard Quigley (Labour) See his website
- Bob Seely (Conservative) See his website
- Nick Stuart (LibDem) See his website
- Rachel Thacker (Alliance for Democracy and Freedom) See the ADF website
