Liveblogs

Lars Kramm has been talking to YorkMix. He’s the Green Party candidate for York Central.

He is hopeful about the Greens taking two seats nationally – but worried about the rise of Reform under leader Nigel Farage – they are predicted to take 13 seats.

“Generally, it will be a good election for the Greens,” Lars said.

“And then the hard work will start because what is worrying is the big Reform vote that we’re seeing up and down the country. That is a mandate for all democratic, decent parties to say we need to reach out to these communities.

“We need to talk to people. We need to put our case out there that the easy solutions they’re offering are not a solution.

“We need to pull together to create a society, a community that works for everyone.”

Lee Taylor, the Reform UK candidate in Richmond and Northallerton, could be seen wandering the floor of the election count wearing the light blue rosette of his party.

Mr Taylor told the PA news agency he always expected to come “second from the beginning”, behind only incumbent Rishi Sunak, describing the contest for the constituency as a “race between myself and Rishi”.

“Labour has never had that many votes in this constituency. When insurgent parties like mine or Ukip come in, they normally beat Labour here,” he said, casting doubt on polling estimates about Labour’s chances.

The Reform candidate added: “The way that Reform UK wins is if Conservative voters swing towards Reform UK.

“It could happen, but as you know it is not just about issues and policies, it is about trust as well, and therefore by employing a speedy election it made it harder for me to gain that trust.”

Mr Taylor also spoke of his novel means of campaigning even in the “far reaches of the constituency”, telling PA a van had been “fashioned and designed” with onboard megaphones and Reform branding to broadcast his electoral message across that part of North Yorkshire.

Richard Flinton, chief executive of North Yorkshire Council and acting returning officer has this explainer on how they are counting and declaring seven seats tonight.

Watch as Richard Flinton, chief executive and acting returning officer, explains how votes in the general election are being counted tonight.

7 MP' seats are being counted in North Yorkshire tonight and we will post the results on our social media and website.

Find out more… pic.twitter.com/xxHPkMVnBG

— North Yorkshire Council (@northyorksc) July 4, 2024

Labour shadow education secretary Bridget Phillipson has won the Houghton and Sunderland South constituency, in the first result of the night.

She said in her victory speech: “Tonight the British people have spoken, and if the exit poll this evening is again a guide to results across our country as it so often is, then after 14 years the British people have chosen change.

“They have chosen Labour and they have chosen the leadership of Keir Starmer. Today our country with its proud history has chosen a brighter future. The British people have decided that they believe as Labour believes that our best days lie ahead of us – hope and unity, not decline and division, stability over chaos.

“A government powered by hope, by the belief that tomorrow cannot just be different from today, but better. A government of service, a government with purpose above all to change our society for good.”

Ms Phillipson took 18,847 votes, ahead of Reform UK on 11,668, with the Conservatives on 5,514, the Liberal Democrats on 2,290 and The Green Party on 1,723. The turnout was 51.2%.