91�ȱ�

Lydia Wilson
91�ȱ� News

“We have made history here today,” said Labour’s Tom Hayes after winning Bournemouth East.

“We have done it over many, many months - volunteers knocking on doors, dropping off leaflets, many conversations about people’s hopes and concerns, and we’ve listened and we will not let you down.”

Both Bournemouth seats went to Labour for the first time, with Jessica Toale taking Bournemouth West, unseating Conservative Conor Burns.

Conservative Simon Hoare has held on to his seat in North Dorset, with his majority slashed from more than 23,000 to 1,589.

He said he was “very relieved and very pleased” at retaining his seat.

He admitted it had been a "bruising election" for the Tories.

"There is a cycle in politics - parties go down and rebuild and resurrect themselves and march on.

"I hope we will provide some constructive opposition.

"The country has moved noticeably to the left - you don't attract votes by lurching to the right," he added.

Speaking before the results began to come through in Dorset, Sir Christopher Chope gave his assessment of the Conservative Party

Steve Harris
Breakfast In Dorset, Radio Solent

Both seats in Bournemouth have gone to the Labour Party for the first time.

In Bournemouth East Tom Hayes of Labour polled 18,318, ahead of former government minister Tobias Ellwood's 12,837 votes.

In Bournemouth West, Jessica Toale unseated Conservative Conor Burns, with a majority of 3,224.

She told supporters: "We did it!"

"We have run a relentlessly positive campaign and we should all be very proud of that," she said.

Other recent Labour gains from the Conservatives include:

• Camborne and Redruth
• North East Derbyshire

Tristan Pascoe
Political Reporter, Dorset

Conservative Richard Drax has lost his seat in Dorset South after 14 years.

He was beaten by Labour's Lloyd Hatton who polled 15,659 votes, gaining a majority of 1,048.

Speaking after the declaration, Mr Hatton said: "I want to thank the good people of South Dorset who put their trust in me

"Its a huge responsibility - I will work night and day to represent you. I will try my best to be a local champion for our community," he said.

He said voters "could not stomach" another five years of Conservative rule.

Bournemouth East has voted for Labour, meaning a loss for the Conservative incumbant, Tobias Ellwood

Mid Dorset and North Poole Lib Dem candidate Vikki Slade has praised her family’s support during the campaign.

“My husband's here, my daughter has been doing all the digital stuff, all the data crunching. One of my sons has been out knocking on doors, and then my other two have been delivering when they're not at school or uni.

“And actually I've had a few of other people's teenagers knocking on doors for me, as well. So, this idea that all young people are disillusioned is not right. We've had people volunteering. There's a young lady here who goes to Canford School who's not even old enough to vote! "The constituency's got significantly bigger this time around. We've taken a bit of Bournemouth, a bit of Poole, a bit of north Dorset and a bit of south Dorset.

“All territory that we don't know so we've been trying to get to know those areas super fast."

Tobias Ellwood is looking grim at the Bournemouth East count, while there are big smiles from Labour candidate Tom Hayes.

Tristan Pascoe
Political Reporter, Dorset

Candidates Marcus White (West Dorset) and Rosie Morrell (South Dorset). She is a sex worker and he has a background in business.

From the Everyone Is God party - although they failed to register the name in time so standing as Independents.

Tristan Pascoe
Political Reporter, Dorset

Here in Weymouth, ballot papers for Dorset West are still being verified. It's likely that will be quite a close race with Lib Dem Ed Morello challenging Conservative Chris Loder.

Meanwhile counting for Dorset South is already under way and is likely to be declared first.

Peter Henley
Political editor, South of England

Here at Kings Park Leisure and Learning Centre in Bournemouth, we are expecting the first result - for Bournemouth East - to be declared at about 2.30am.

The turnout in Bournemouth East was down from 67% in 2019 to 61%.

Poole MP Sir Robert Syms told me his count was close but he thinks he will hang on. He told me he was "baffled" as why the election was called when it was called.

You hear a lot of Conservatives saying -‘we weren’t getting a hearing - people were saying ‘sorry times up’

Tristan Pascoe
Political Reporter, Dorset

Nothing significant to say from here yet - but am being told turnout in some parts of West Dorset was very high - 85% at one polling station

The Liberal Democat Leader of Dorset council, Nick Ireland was optimistic and smiling about prospects for Ed Morello in West Dorset.

Voting has been taking place throughout the day across the UK in the 2024 general election.

Join us after midnight BST for coverage of all the results and reaction across Dorset.

91�ȱ� South will have reporters at the counts and you can follow all the election developments as they happen here on the 91�ȱ� News website and app.