General election 2024: Live election results from the New Forest

If you're just joining us, the Conservatives have held both seats in the New Forest.

You can scroll back to recap how it happened.

We'll be closing this live blog now, but there will be ongoing coverage from the national picture and reaction to the results across Hampshire over on our main blog here.

New Forest West result:

Reginald Chester-Sterne, Reform UK: 7,577

Anna Collar, Green Party: 2,800

Jack Davies, Liberal Democrats: 8,186

Sally Johnston, Labour: 10,812

Gavin Ridley, Animal Welfare Party: 393

Paul Simon, Social Democratic Party: 157

Desmond Swayne, Conservative: 16,412

Turnout 67.72 per cent.

'I am relieved'

Conservative MP Desmond Swayne (Image: NQ)

Tory MP Desmond Swayne has retained his New Forest seat after polling 16,412 votes.

He said: "I'm relieved to have won because it wasn't always clear to me that it was going to be the case. Almost every conversation on the footsteps began with the words: 'I've always voted Tory, but...'"

Sir Desmond blamed Partygate, the Liz Truss premiership and Rishi Sunak's decision to call an early election for Tory losses.

'I am pleased and thrilled'

Sir Julian told the Daily Echo: "I'm obviously pleased and thrilled that for the eighth time, the people of New Forest East have put their confidence in me to continue to represent them at Westminster."

Asked why the Tories had lost so many seats across the country he said: "There are any number of reasons, not least that it would have been unprecedented in British political history for any party to win five consecutive terms on government."

Sir Julian said he hoped that Rishi Sunak would remain leader for the time being.

"It's important that an outgoing prime minister should stay on as leader of the party so that a successor can emerge as part of a considered process and not the result of a mad rush by ambitious people at odds with one another," he said.

Sir Julian referred to David Cameron's dramatic departure from Downing Street after losing the Brexit referendum.

He said: "I would be surprised and disappointed if Rishi Sunak behaved in the same irresponsible manner."

Tory Sir Julian keeps his seat

Conservative candidate Sir Julian Lewis has retained his New Forest East seat. Sir Julian polled 17,412 votes, easily beating his nearest rival, Labour's Sasjkia Otto, who had 8,917 votes.

New Forest East results:

Mad Hatter, Monster Raving Loony Party: 529

Simon King, Green Party: 3,118

Adrian Knight, Animal Welfare Party: 420

Julian Lewis, Conservatives: 17,412

Sasjkia Otto, Labour: 8,917

Caroline Rackham, Liberal Democrat: 7,198

Roy Swales, Reform UK: 7,646

Latest results

New Forest East - result

Sir Julian Lewis has retained New Forest East.

(Image: NQ)

Candidates in New Forest East include Mad Hatter - real name Roger Willatt - who is standing for the Monster Raving Loony Party. Their policies include keeping fridge doors open for an hour each day to cool down the atmosphere, and moving New Year's Eve to June 1 "to spread the fun".

Mad Hatter (Image: NQ)

Sir Desmond Swayne, the  Tory candidate in New Forest West, has just arrived at the count.

Tory Julian Lewis is watching the New Forest East votes being counted. The result is expected to be announced at around 3.30am. Sir Julian was first elected in New Forest East in 1997

(Image: NQ)

Jeremy Heron, Malcolm Wade and Derek Tipp are watching TV coverage of the election. All three are members of New Forest District Council.

(Image: NQ)

Counting has begun for New Forest East

(Image: NQ)

We have our first turnout figures of the night!

The provisional turnout figure for New Forest East has been given as 64 per cent.

An update from the New Forest counts from reporter Chris Yandell: "A cordial and relaxed atmosphere is evident at the New Forest count. A few people are watching TV coverage of the election but most are chatting to political friends and foes alike as they wait for the counting to begin. Tory Sir Julian Lewis, who is bidding to retain his seat in New Forest East, said he was "cautiously optimistic"."

A board listing all the polling stations in the New Forest shoes the current state of the vote verification process. In all parts of New Forest East it's shown as "complete" or "in progress" but in many parts of New Forest West it's shown as "not started".

All 185 ballot boxes from polling stations across the New Forest have now arrived at the count. They have been taken to Applemore Health and Leisure from 97 polling stations in 73 locations.

Read our breakout story: Rishi Sunak will stand down if Conservatives lose to Labour

Conservative candidate Sir Julian Lewis arrives at the count

Sir Julian Lewis, who is standing in New Forest East for the Conservatives, has arrived at the count in Hythe.

He has forecast that Rishi Sunak will make way for a new leader of the party if the Conservatives lose to Labour.

He said: "I'm fairly sure that after a major defeat there would have to be a new captain of the ship."

But Sir Julian dismissed suggestions that Mr Sunak would quit tomorrow, citing his strength of character and concern for the welfare of the party.

Commenting on the exit poll he added: "Predictions of a Labour majority come as no surprise, given all the recent predictions. However, 131 seats is not too dissimilar to the scale of the 1997 result, when the Conservatives managed just 165."

Sir Julian is attending the count with his wife Fiona.

(Image: NQ)

The count is about to get under way in the New Forest. District council staff estimate that 19,600 paper clips will be used during the course of the evening. The figure is based on an electorate of 140,000 and a turnout of 70 per cent.

There's even a kid's play area on hand in case the candidates want to while away the hours.

(Image: NQ)

New Forest West exit poll results

The exit poll also suggests a 99%+ chance of the Conservatives holding New Forest West.

New Forest East exit poll results

According to the exit poll, there is a 94% chance the Conservatives hold New Forest East.

There's a 3% chance that Labour or Reform gain the seat, respectively.

The exit poll is predicting that the Liberal Democrats will win 61 seats across the country.

The forecast was welcomed by Caroline Rackham, the Lib Dem candidate on New Forest East.

She said: "That's fantastic - things are going really well. It's kind of what we were thinking, so it's not a surprise but it's nice to have it confirmed."

Asked how the Lib Dems would do on the Forest she said: "It's all a bit up on the air. It's really hard to call."

(Image: NQ)

Now things have settled down slightly, let's bring you up to speed with the Echo's coverage this evening.

In Southampton, digital editor Ryan Evans and senior reporter Tim Edgley are monitoring the counts for Southampton Test and Southampton Itchen. You can follow coverage here.

In Eastleigh, we have senior reporter Jose Ramos on hand, with the exit poll suggesting it could flip to the Liberal Democrats. Follow coverage from that count here.

In the New Forest, chief reporter Chris Yandell will keep you up to date with what's going on at the New Forest East and New Forest West counts. Follow his coverage here.

Up in Romsey, Toby Oliver is at the count of the Romsey & Southampton North seat. You can follow his coverage here.

Meanwhile, over in Fareham, Ross Marshall is monitoring Fareham & Waterlooville, where Suella Braverman is hoping for re-election, and Hamble Valley, a new constituency. Follow here.

And we have local democracy reporter Natalia Forero in position in Gosport - follow here.

Ballot boxes arrive in Hythe

Ballot boxes are starting to arrive at Applemore Health and Leisure, where the count for New Forest East and New Forest West is being held. The results are expected to be announced at around 4am.

(Image: NQ)

A reminder, 326 is required for a majority.

The Green Party would have two MPs.

In Scotland, the SNP are expected to secure 10 seats with Plaid Cymru in Wales on four.

It would be the lowest number Tory MPs on record.

Labour would win 410 seats according to the poll, carried out for BBC, ITV and Sky.

The Conservatives would win 131, Lib Dems 61, Reform 13 and SNP 10.

BREAKING

The exit poll suggests a Labour landslide

Less than ten minutes to go till polls close - we'll bring you the exit poll as soon as it comes in.

Good evening and welcome to our live coverage of general election night here in the New Forest.

Polls will close in a little under an hour, and we'll have all the twists and turns as the results for the two seats of New Forest East and New Forest West come in throughout the night.

Whether you're staying up all night, or dipping in and out in between sleep, our team of reporters will bring you all the reaction as Hampshire elects its new MPs.

We'll also be keeping you up to date with the national picture, with all the major news stories as the night unfolds.