Image source, UK Parliament

In total, 132 MPs chose not to stand again at the general election, including six from Yorkshire.

Conservatives Robert Goodwill (Scarborough and Whitby) and Craig Whittaker (Calder Valley) chose not to seek re-election this time, as did former Labour MPs Paul Blomfield (Sheffield Central), Holly Lynch (Halifax), Barry Sheerman (Huddersfield) and Rosie Winterton (Doncaster Central).

Mr Sheerman, who announced his plan to step down in 2021, was first elected as an MP for Huddersfield East in 1979 before representing the Huddersfield constituency from 1983.

The 84-year-old described his time in parliament as "the honour of my life" but said he was looking forward to spending more time with his family.

Aisha Iqbal
Political reporter, Yorkshire

Image source, BBC/Aisha Iqbal

Matt Edwards, leader of Green Party in Bradford, says he is confident the party could quadruple its number of MPs.

“We are seeing a massive increase in the Green vote across Bradford, it’s really exciting,” he said.

“The Green Party is making a real impact on Bradford South and it’s just the start for us.”

However, Mr Edwards says the current electoral system needed to be overhauled.

“We are looking at a system that is profoundly undemocratic.

“Labour have got - from looking at the exit polls - around 40% of the total vote but are going to get 2/3 of the seats, that is undemocratic.

“If we want to deal with the inequality in this country, we need to start with our electoral system.”

Aisha Iqbal
Political reporter, Yorkshire

There's been a lot of noise across the district around the general election.

Politics can be a shouty business at the best of times, but it’s been fascinating to see the contrast between the muted, almost non-campaign in Bradford from the perspective of the bigger national parties and the mega-phone wielding razzamatazz employed by some candidates at a hyper-local level.

We've had barely any big-hitter political visits, with formerly incumbent candidates left for the most part to shore up their existing vote and really work the trust and track records they’ve established locally.

However at more local level – and particularly in parts of the patch where there is a large Asian and specifically Muslim population – it becomes bolder, brasher and very much personality focused.

Huge banners bearing candidates’ names and faces are on several of the main thoroughfares, and I’ve seen a multitude of mobile billboard vans weaving their way round the streets blaring out their credentials.

In terms of issues, educational achievement, NHS waiting lists and local services have come up multiple times when I have spoken to people, though it does vary depending on which of the five constituencies you are in.

In several constituencies, the issue of Gaza, the plight of the Palestinian people and the parties’ stances on the matter, has come up repeatedly, with many people telling me they would vote only for an openly and unwaveringly pro-ceasefire party and candidate.

Aisha Iqbal
Political reporter, Yorkshire

A few of the candidates have been spotted at the count at Bradford's Sedbergh Sports and Leisure Centre.

Among them is Conservative candidate Nigel Moxon, who is challenging Naz Shah for the Bradford West seat.

She latterly held it with a 27,000 majority but has faced a big challenge, especially from independent candidates standing on a mainly pro Gaza platform.

Bradford Council leader Susan Hinchcliffe has also arrived to support the Labour candidates for Bradford West, South and East.

Aisha Iqbal
Political reporter, Yorkshire

Image source, Getty Images

The main battle in Bradford is going to be between Labour and the independents.

Imran Hussain in Bradford East and Naz Shah in Bradford West are defending massive majorities, but are facing strong challenges from independent candidates campaigning on a pro-Gaza, pro-ceasefire ticket.

With three independent candidates in each of those seats, my guess is the vote will be split and Labour will ultimately hold on.

In the two outlying seats, Shipley and Keighley and Ilkley, I'm expecting a straight fight between Labour and the Conservatives.

Both were latterly held by the Conservatives, Shipley by Sir Philip Davies since 2005 and Keighley and Ilkley – often seen as a bit of bellwether - by Robbie Moore since 2019.

Mr Moore will face stiff competition from his predecessor, John Grogan, with both fighting campaigns rooted in local issues. Mr Moore especially has relied very much on his local credentials and track record over the last few years. His marketing has barely mentioned his party or his leader.

In Shipley, Sir Philip reportedly bet £8,000 onlosing his seat – if he does, it will be interesting to find out how much he won. He has denied any wrongdoing and says he did the same in 2005 – when he ended up winning the seat, but losing his money.

The polls have indicated a Labour red-wash across Bradford. But if voters in this district are anything, they are unpredictable, just look at the 2012 by-election when George Galloway took Bradford West. So only time will tell.

Of the 45 seats contested in 2019 across North, South and West Yorkshire, seven switched hands, and all seven turned from red to blue.

The Conservatives took Don Valley, Penistone and Stocksbridge, Rother Valley, Keighley, Colne Valley, Dewsbury and Wakefield five years ago as Labour's so-called "red wall" crumbled.

On a night of big wins for the Conservatives, Alex Stafford (pictured above) became the first Tory MP for Rother Valley since it was created in 1918 while Nick Fletcher ended almost 100-years of Labour dominance in Don Valley.

Since then Wakefield has turned red again, with Simon Lightwood winning the seat following a by-election in June 2022 after previous incumbent Imran Ahmad-Khan was convicted and jailed for sexual assault.

Image source, PA Media

After a 2023 Boundary Commission review many of the constituencies in Yorkshire have undergone changes, with some disappearing all together.

As a result the majorities candidates held after the 2019 general election have been altered to reflect the majorities that would have been achieved in 2019 based on the 2024 boundaries.

Under the new calculations the following seats have the smallest majorities:

• Pontefract, Castleford and Knottingley - 1,082
• Sheffield Hallam - 1,108
• Rawmarsh and Conisbrough - 1,257
• Doncaster Central - 1,271
• Halifax - 1,902

Aisha Iqbal
Political reporter, Yorkshire

I'm here at the Sedbergh Sports and Leisure Centre where counting has begun for the Bradford East, South and West constituencies.

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.

The polls have now closed and counting is set to begin.

We're not expecting any results for a few hours, but in the meantime we'll be bringing you updates from across Yorkshire as well as local reaction to the bigger, national picture.

Voting has been taking place throughout the day across the UK in the 2024 General Election.

Join us after 22:00 BST for coverage of all the results and reaction across Bradford.

BBC Yorkshire will have reporters at the counts and you can follow all the election developments as they happen here on the BBC News website and app.

You can find out more about how to follow the election on the BBC here.