Charlotte Wright
BBC South East Political Editor, Medway

Image source, Charlotte Wright/BBC

Reform UK activists here tell me they think their party may have a strong showing in Medway this year.

Some even suggest the party – led by Nigel Farage - might come second in one or two of the constituencies.

Rochester and Strood did have a Ukip MP for about six months ten years ago, when the man in charge of the party was one Nigel Farage.

Former Tory MP Mark Reckless joined Ukip over Brexit and triggered a by-election, which he won. The Tories did win the seat back in the 2015 election.

This year, Reform activists say they encountered enthusiasm for their party on the doorstep and disillusionment with the Conservatives.

But they say they’re attracting would-be Labour voters too, which some Labour figures privately acknowledge could be a possibility.

We won’t know for sure if they’re right until all the votes are counted in the early hours of this morning.

Andy Garland
BBC news, Sevenoaks

Image source, Andy Garland/BBC

In Sevenoaks the "bow tie of the night" award clearly goes to Rejoin EU candidate Elwyn Lloyd Jones.

He tells me he thinks many “voters have been split three ways split between Conservatives, Lib Dems and Reform”.

Judging by the votes counted so far he may be on to something, although it’s too early to tell for sure and the exit poll predicts a Conservative hold for Laura Trott.

Meanwhile the Reform camp tell me they’re happy with the evening so far.

Jo Burn
BBC News, Canterbury

Image source, Jo Burn/BBC

The first mini count for new constituency Herne Bay and Sandwich has just begun here in Canterbury.

A declaration is not expected before 06:00 BST but Labour supporters are reporting that their candidate Helen Whitehead has done better than expected

She is up against Sir Roger Gale who has been a stalwart of Thanet politics since 1983.

But exit polls suggest that he could be facing retirement.

Image source, Jo Burn/BBC

And could this be the most civilised count in Kent as party supporters make the most of the cinema staying open late next door.

James Lewer
BBC News, Ashford

Image source, James Lewer/BBC

Former Ashford MP and former Deputy Prime Minister Damian Green has been speaking to BBC Radio Kent.

He said: "It's a very bad exit poll for the Conservative Party.

"It will be one of the biggest swings we have ever seen.

"We've had a lack of competence in the way public services have been run. A lot of people are fed up with what's happened."

James Dunn
BBC News, Tunbridge Wells

Image source, James Dunn/BBC

We’re expecting the turnout any minute, and a result shortly after 04:00 BST.

The Conservatives had a majority of nearly 15,000 last time around, but there isn’t a Tory blue rosette in sight yet.

The Lib Dems, however, are out in force, and appear to be monitoring the vote very carefully.

No-one’s willing to comment on how it’s going but their presence here seems very much in line with the exit poll - at this stage, this one may be too close to call.

Michael Keohan
BBC Kent political reporter

Image source, Michael Keohan/BBC

Sources in the Damian Collins team here have told me they believe they'll finish the night in third place.

Damian Collins a former chair of the influential Digital, Culture, Media and Sport committee and junior minister, is yet to arrive at the count.

The Reform candidate William Wright has just told me: "I never expected this but I now seriously believe I might win."

Labour sources here believe they too have done better than expected and tell me they're confident with how they're returning votes.

Katie May Nelson
BBC Radio Kent

The count is well underway at the Woodville Halls in Gravesham. The council offices, which doubles as a theatre, is the backdrop of what could prove to be a dramatic night.

Unlike other constituencies, Gravesham hasn’t been changed by recent boundary changes and as I look on, the 63 counters are making their way through boxes from 50 polling stations across the borough.

All eyes are on Adam Holloway who had been the MP here for almost 20 years. But could that be about to change?

When he was elected in 2005, it was the first time since the Second World War the seat wasn’t held by the party of government.

The Brexiteer and Boris Johnson ally is here with his team. He won 62.2% of the vote in 2019.

The verification of the votes is under way, however, the final result is not expected anytime before 3am.

BBC Politics

The Labour Party is forecast to win a landslide majority in Parliament, according to an exit poll published as voting ended in the 2024 general election.

Labour is set to take 410 seats, well ahead of the Conservatives on 131, according to the forecast based on the poll carried out by Ipsos for the BBC, ITV News and Sky News.

Thanks to a handy tool created by the BBC team, you can find out what the forecast is for your constituency here.

Charlotte Wright
Political Editor, BBC South East, in Medway

This sports hall in Medway is a hive of activity as counting gets under way for three Parliamentary seats: Rochester and Strood, Gillingham and Rainham and Chatham and Aylesford.

We had been expecting a result here at about 4am - but staff tell me they've had reports that the polling stations were very busy today, meaning it might be closer to 6am.

As midnight struck an enthusiastic round of "happy birthday" rang out for a Labour activist who told me he couldn't be happier to be celebrating it here.

There are plenty of snacks for the long night ahead, but no sign of any birthday cake.

Claire Starr
Reporter, BBC South East

Ballot boxes have been arriving at the count in Dover Cars carrying the boxes are queuing round the leisure centre car park to deliver their valuable cargo ready for the counters waiting inside.

Charlotte Wright
Political Editor, BBC South East

At the last general election in 2019, the Conservative party returned 51 out of the 55 MPs in Sussex, Surrey and Kent.

Since then, party leaders have changed, there are new priorities and big changes have been made to the political map.

Boundaries have been redrawn and many constituencies will be new or different for millions of people.

Faye Hackwell
BBC Radio Kent

Image source, BBC/Faye Hackwell

This sports hall in Broadstairs usually hosts activities and events for St George’s School’s 1,300 pupils during the day, but tonight it’s been transformed into a count venue for the Thanet East constituency.

We’re currently awaiting the arrival of the ballot boxes and expect a result to be announced here sometime between 03:00 and 04:00 BST.

East Thanet is a new seat that’s been redrawn from the former South Thanet constituency and covers the eastern tip of Thanet, including the towns of Ramsgate and Broadstairs.

It’s lost Sandwich to the new Herne Bay and Sandwich seat, but gained Margate from the former North Thanet constituency.

As we wait for the first seat to be declared in Kent at about 02:45 BST, here's some food for thought about what the next government will be up against.

According to BBC South East journalist Claire Starr, funding, pay and the increasing expectation from schools will all need to be factored into education policy.

Image source, BBC/Claire Starr

Ben Hulme, executive head teacher at St Paul’s Church of England Primary School in Swanley, Kent, said funding was one of the biggest issues, for staffing and being able to support pupils and their families.

He said the other agencies that might have done so previously "just aren’t there any more".

Andy Garland
BBC Radio Kent, Sevenoaks

And so election night begins in the slightly utilitarian surroundings of Sevenoaks Leisure Centre.

On the downside we’re in for a long night.

On the upside at least the parking is free overnight!

We’re in the verification stage here in Sevenoaks, where the contents of the ballot boxes are checked against the expected contents from the polling station.

The election staff are carefully counting them into piles of 20 ballot papers and as you can see are well prepared for the long night’s work ahead!

Clara-Mae Turrall
BBC Radio Kent

The ballot boxes have begun to arrive at the Swallows Leisure Centre in Sittingbourne, where I'm told counting is due to begin shortly.

There is a lot of hubbub happening, with tellers around the hall talking to each other and speculating who might take the seat tonight.

There's also a large group of Labour campaigners grouped in a circle sat in the hall, who appear to have an atmosphere of happiness and are probably feeling quietly confident after their exit polls.

As for the other parties, there's a smaller presence.

Jo Burn
BBC Radio Kent

Postal votes have now been counted in Canterbury and the first ballot box has been emptied onto the tables.

The Westgate Hall in the city centre is the venue for two counts tonight.

The new constituency is Herne Bay and Sandwich which is being defended by Sir Roger Gale who first won his seat back in 1983 against Labour's Cherie Booth, later to become Blair.

But it’s the Canterbury constituency that will be declared first as polling stations are closer to the count.

There are still a few hours to go though. We are not expecting any results until well after midnight so it’s time to open the biscuits.

Charlotte Wright
Political Editor, BBC South East

Image source, BBC/Sophia Cobby

It’s hard to overstate just how Tory the South East of England has been in recent years.

At the 2019 election, 51 out of the 55 MPs elected in Kent, Sussex and Surrey were Conservative.

All but one seat in Surrey has only elected Conservative MPs for decades (Guildford elected a Lib Dem for one term in 2001).

But in recent years we’ve seen voters turning away from the Tories in the local council elections.

Not a single district or borough council in Sussex or Surrey has a Conservative majority.

While people often vote differently in local elections to general ones, it’s clear the Conservatives don’t have such a tight grip on the region as they once did.

Opposition parties have been targeting a number of South East seats during the course of the campaign.

And if tonight’s exit poll is accurate, it looks like we'll see a more colourful map of the region’s constituencies by the morning.

Image source, PA Media

Here’s a list of estimated declaration times in Kent (in alphabetical order)…

• Ashford: 4.30am
• Canterbury: 3am
• Chatham & Aylesford: 6am
• Dartford: 4am
• Dover & Deal: 3.30am
• Faversham & Mid Kent: 4.30am
• Folkestone & Hythe: 2.45am
• Gillingham & Rainham: 5am
• Herne Bay & Sandwich 5.30am
• Gravesham: 4.30am
• Maidstone & Malling: 4.30am
• Tunbridge Wells: 4.30am
• Rochester & Strood: 5am
• Sevenoaks: 4am
• Sittingbourne & Sheppey 4am
• Thanet East: 3am
• Tonbridge: 5.30am
• Tunbridge Wells: 4.30am

Labour is set to win a general election landslide with a majority of 170, according to an exit poll for the BBC, ITV and Sky.

If the forecast is accurate, it means Sir Keir Starmer will become prime minister with 410 Labour MPs – just short of Tony Blair's 1997 total.

The Conservatives are predicted to slump to 131 MPs, their lowest number in post-war history.

The Liberal Democrats are projected to come third with 61 MPs.

The Scottish National Party will see its number of MPs fall to 10 and Reform UK is forecast to get 13 MPs, according to the exit poll.

The Green Party of England and Wales is predicted to double its number of MPs to two and Plaid Cymru are set to get four MPs. Others are forecast to get 19 seats.

The exit poll, overseen by Sir John Curtice and a team of statisticians, is based on data from voters at about 130 polling stations in England, Scotland and Wales. The poll does not cover Northern Ireland.

At the past five general elections, the exit poll has been accurate to within a range of 1.5 and 7.5 seats.