Exit poll kicked off night of high drama
Where were you when you heard the result of the 2017 General Election exit poll?
OK, it’s not quite the same as asking where you were when Kennedy died.
But in terms of moments in British political history, it is likely to be‘right up there’, to use a well-worn phrase so beloved by football managers and players reflecting on how much a particular glory means to them.
For the record, I was about to leave my home for the South Lanarkshire count on a wet and wild Thursday night when Sky News breathlessly announced that a hung parliament was about to be delivered.
But, but, but – the polls all had the Tories winning.
Well, what’s that old adage about there only being one poll that matters?
What was supposed to be a foregone conclusion, Theresa May’s coronation if you will, was now going to be one of the most dramatic evenings in General Election history.
That the Tories would win enough seats to be the largest party was not in doubt.
Mrs May being able to get the numbers to push business through parliament was very much up for debate, however.
Indeed, the Liberal Democrats press office used their Twitter page to inform those who had already been on the blower that there would be no coalition, no deal.
A bit presumptuous, maybe, given only a handful of results had been declared but they obviously needed to get that off their chests. The scars of 2010 have yet to heal.
While leader Jeremy Corbyn prepared for the journey from zero to hero, his Labour Party were about to enjoy a revival of their own in East Kilbride.
The lanes at the sides and in between the tables at the count centre were not as populated when compared to past experiences but they were alive to a potential shock brewing in Rutherglen and HamiltonWest.
Labour had thrown the kitchen sink at the seat with the party’s Scottish leader Kezia Dugdale in the area on a couple of occasions.
Ged Killen was hoping to 080617election_15 defeat Margaret Ferrier from the SNP – and that he did to the delight of those wearing the red rose. A case of tales of the unexpected although by this point it was clear that Labour were, as unlikely as it seemed, about to enjoy a profitable night.
Winning in East Kilbride, Strathaven and Lesmahagow was a bridge too far – no surprise given the SNP’s Dr Lisa Cameron had a 16,527 majority from 2015.
But it was the impressive performance of Tory candidate Mark McGeever which raised eyebrows here.
He almost doubled the blue vote from two years ago while Labour’s figure remained static with the SNP’s majority cut to under 4000.
Folk not bothering to vote explains, in part, the SNP’s numbers going down but it would appear that they, Labour and the Tories all exchanged votes as people decided to switch sides.
And indyref2 is what springs to mind when considering why voters in the constituency had placed their faith in the Conservatives.
The last of the three seats to declare was Lanark and Hamilton East and only once the result had been called did we realise how close we came to a dreaded recount.
The SNP’s Angela Crawley hung on by the skin of her teeth in what turned out to be a hard-fought contest with the second-placed Tories and Labour.
And that was that – in East Kilbride at least.
Tables and chairs were packed away, the stage removed. There was thanks to God for there being no recount.
Upstairs in the makeshift press room, a lone bottle of water stood in the space once occupied by boxes of caramel wafers, caramel logs and Tunnock’s teacakes.
The radio airwaves were filled with debate and spin, the election result was setting the political world alight to which those of us heading home from duty had another question.
Will we be asked to do this all again later this year?
COLIN PATERSON