Summary

  • Justice secretary Alex Chalk has lost in Cheltenham to the Lib Dems

  • The new MP there is Lib Dem Max Wilkinson

  • In Stroud, Labour's Dr Simon Opher has won

  1. A winning smile?published at 03:43 British Summer Time 5 July

    Jules Hyam
    BBC News, West of England

    It was said to be too close to call between long standing Conservative MP James Gray and Lib Dem newcomer Roz Savage in South Cotswolds.

    With declarations due in about half an hour, I've just asked her manager to pull a face that described exactly how he was feeling as the final votes get counted.

    Roz Savage's campaign manager cracks a big smile at the election count
    Image caption,

    Roz Savage's manager is feeling hopeful

  2. Already talks of a recount in the Forest of Deanpublished at 03:39 British Summer Time 5 July

    Edward Rowe
    Political reporter, BBC Gloucestershire

    Nervous faces continue to look around the counting tables as votes are tallied up.

    Jokes of a recount earlier in the night seem a bit more serious now showing just how close Labour are pushing the Conservatives.

    But as we wait the most shocking news we’ve had so far is how reasonably priced some of the snacks are!

    A blackboard with the price of refreshments on at the Forest of Dean count, including tea for £1.40, a three item breakfast bap for £4.30, and chips with cheese for £2.60
    Image caption,

    The price of snacks at the Forest of Dean count

  3. Count continues in Gloucesterpublished at 03:35 British Summer Time 5 July

    Esme Ashcroft
    Political reporter, BBC Gloucestershire

    The wait goes on.

    Well it was supposed to be a 3am declaration here in Gloucester, but there’s no indication we’re anywhere close at the moment.

    The coffee has run out, the snacks are dwindling and still the counting continues.

  4. Smiles fading in Cirencesterpublished at 03:33 British Summer Time 5 July

    Jules Hyam
    BBC News, West of England

    Election nights can be full of 'poker faces' but some here in Cirencester are starting to slip.

    The smiles are fading from James Gray's Conservative team and starting to appear on the faces of Roz Savage's Lib Dem supporters.

    Her manager Stephen Kearney just told us "you only have to look at the piles of ballot papers stacking up."

    James Gray's Conservative team frowning
    Image caption,

    'Poker faces' are beginning to slip in Cirencester

  5. Cheltenham: What were the numbers?published at 03:21 British Summer Time 5 July

    Max Wilkinson, Lib Dem candidate, won the seat with 25,076 votes, 50.62%.

    Conservative candidate Alex Chalk, who held the seat previously, received 17,866 votes, 36.06%.

    Daniel Wilson, candidate for the Green Party, received 3,160 votes, 6.38%.

    Labour candidate Lara Chaplin received 2,665 votes, 5.38%.

    Daud McDonald, Independent candidate, received 775 votes, 1.56%.

  6. Tewkesbury declaration expected at 05:00BSTpublished at 03:11 British Summer Time 5 July

    Duncan Cook
    BBC News, Gloucestershire

    Counting continuing in Tewkesbury but Lib Dem candidate Cameron Thomas thinks he has pushed ahead.

    Still a way to go yet though with a declaration expected around 5am.

  7. Result: Lib Dems gain Cheltenhampublished at 03:08 British Summer Time 5 July
    Breaking

    Max Wilkinson, the Lib Dem candidate for Cheltenham, has beaten current Justice Secretary and Conservative candidate Alex Chalk.

  8. Davey delightpublished at 03:06 British Summer Time 5 July

    Esme Ashcroft
    Political reporter, BBC Gloucestershire

    Liberal Democrat candidate, Rebecca Trimnell, says she’s delighted with party leader, Ed Davey’s, 17,000 majority and the party’s national performance.

    She say’s she’s ‘held her own’ during the campaign and is hopeful for a result in the double figures.

    No sign yet of Labour’s Alex McIntyre.

    So far the biggest upset of the night is the fact the coffee machine has stopped working in the café.

    Rebecca Trimnell at the Gloucester count
    Image caption,

    Rebecca Trimnell, Liberal Democrat candidate for Gloucester, at the count

  9. Liberal Democrats gain Cheltenham from the Conservativespublished at 03:02 British Summer Time 5 July

    Conservative Justice Secretary Alex Chalk loses his seat to the Lib Dems' Max Wilkinson. He's the first Cabinet minister to lose his seat.

    Graphic showing Liberal Democrats gain Cheltenham from the Conservatives. The winning candidate was Max Wilkinson.
  10. Richard Graham 'not looking forward to result'published at 02:56 British Summer Time 5 July

    Esme Ashcroft
    Political reporter, BBC Gloucestershire

    Richard Graham has arrived at the Gloucester count.

    He says he’s ‘not hugely looking forward to the result’, but he is ‘very proud’ of the team who have been with him for the past 14 years and his achievements for the city.

    It must be said the Conservative huddle is looking a little glum.

    Gloucester Conservative candidate Richard Graham smiling at the camera at the count
    Image caption,

    Richard Graham has arrived at the Gloucester count

  11. Mark Harper arrivespublished at 02:45 British Summer Time 5 July

    Edward Rowe
    Political reporter, BBC Gloucestershire

    Conservative MP Mark Harper has arrived at the Forest of Dean count.

    The Transport Secretary is on a knife edge by all accounts with Labour.

    Declaration expected here around 04.00 BST.

    Mark Harper turns up at the Forest of Dean count
    Image caption,

    Mark Harper has arrived

  12. Trouble in Tewkesburypublished at 02:40 British Summer Time 5 July

    Duncan Cook
    BBC News, Gloucestershire

    Things are falling apart in Tewkesbury.

    The Tewkesbury Borough Council comms team are making urgent repairs to their backing screens so they are ready for the declaration

    Thankfully Gethin has a screwdriver!

    Gethin from Tewkesbury Borough Council repairing a backing screen in a leisure centre
    Image caption,

    Things are not going to plan in Tewkesbury

  13. South Cotswolds turnoutpublished at 02:35 British Summer Time 5 July

    Jules Hyam
    BBC News, West of England

    We’ve just had the turnout figures for one of the new Cotswolds constituencies.

    52,452 votes have been verified and are now being counted. That's a turnout figure of 73%

    That's about the same as the percentage of counting agents who are watching the TV coverage in the cafe... ish, I mean, there are a lot of them having coffee right now...

    A graphic showing 73 per cent turnout in South Cotswolds
    Image caption,

    Votes are being counted in the South Cotswolds

  14. 4am declaration predicted for North Cotswoldspublished at 02:33 British Summer Time 5 July

    Jules Hyam
    BBC News, West of England

    No sooner does one turnout figure get announced, than another follows hot on its heels.

    Not quite as high in North Cotswolds - 50,415 verified votes - that's 69%.

    Right - on with the counting... everyone's left the cafe now.

    They're aiming to declare around 4am here.

    A graphic showing 69% turnout for the North Cotswolds
    Image caption,

    The count is on in the North Cotswolds

  15. Labour come out on top in Stroudpublished at 02:26 British Summer Time 5 July

    Georgia Stone
    BBC News, Gloucestershire

    Stroud's next MP has been revealed as Dr Simon Opher (Labour) winning 25,607 votes.

    While previous MP since 2019, Siobhan Baillie (Conservative) won 14,219 votes.

  16. 'Photo finish' in the Forest of Deanpublished at 02:14 British Summer Time 5 July

    Edward Rowe
    Political reporter, BBC Gloucestershire

    The Forest of Dean will be a “photo finish” between Labour and the Conservatives.

    That’s the assessment of Mark Hawthorne, Conservative leader at Gloucestershire County Council.

    Hawthorne also believed the Reform candidate had taken votes off both Labour and the Conservatives.

    Both sides are looking nervous at the moment as counting has just got underway in the Forest of Dean following verification.

    More as we get it.

  17. 'Deserved' defeatpublished at 02:00 British Summer Time 5 July

    Steve Knibbs
    BBC West

    Just caught a quick word with the Gloucestershire Police and Crime Commissioner, Chris Nelson.

    A long time Conservative, he says the scale of the defeat tonight is "seismic, earth shattering" and in some senses he felt the party "deserved it".

    He says he's looking forward to the party rebuilding. He's sad that Gloucestershire will likely be losing some good Conservative MPs. We'll hopefully hear more from him after the declaration.

  18. An easier way of digesting tonight's eventspublished at 01:55 British Summer Time 5 July

    Jules Hyam
    BBC News, West of England

    Election nights are all about numbers. Votes won, seats gained, turnout. If you're bamboozled by the traditional stats, try this..

    The number of votes counted so far in the two new Cotswolds seats - represented in popular snack form...

    A hula hoop crisp on a laminated table surface
    Image caption,

    A digestible fact

  19. Opher takes Stroud majority with 25,630 votespublished at 01:52 British Summer Time 5 July

    Labour has been reinstated in Stroud, after losing the seat to Siobhan Baillie in the 2019 election.

    Opher, a GP in Dursley, had 25,630 crosses put next to his name yesterday, with Baillie voted for by 14,219 Stroud residents.

  20. Result: Labour gains Stroudpublished at 01:49 British Summer Time 5 July
    Breaking

    Labour's Dr Simon Opher has gained Stroud from Conservative Siobhan Baillie.