Election results live: South East

Summary

Updates from the general and local elections in south East England on 7 and 8 May 2015

Live Reporting

South Thanet and Hovepublished at 01:43 British Summer Time 8 May 2015
Some South East MPs have stepped down at this election, including Laura Sandys in South Thanet and Mike Weatherley in Hove.
Ms Sandys said her years as a Conservative MP had been the "most memorable" period of her life.
And Mr Weatherley said his battle with cancer had led him to review what he wanted for the future but he would look back on his time representing his constituents with fond memories.
Image source, Mike Weatherley
Surrey Heathpublished at 01:35 British Summer Time 8 May 2015
Johnny Cantor
BBC Surrey
Image source, PA
Rumour has it Michael Gove traditionally goes for a curry before going to the Surrey Heath count.
South Thanetpublished at 01:30 British Summer Time 8 May 2015
A chipper-looking Al Murray, aka the Pub Landlord, arrives at the count in Margate - he's up against Nigel Farage in South Thanet remember.
Image source, PA
South Thanetpublished at 01:21 British Summer Time 8 May 2015
UKIP leader Nigel Farage has arrived in Margate to await the results of the South Thanet count.
It is his fourth attempt at becoming an MP.
He stood there in 2005 but won only 5% of the votes.
Lewespublished at 01:17 British Summer Time 8 May 2015
Mark Sanders
BBC South East Today
Conservative sources have told the Press Association that Lewes - where Norman Baker is defending for the Liberal Democrats - looks too close to call.
Image source, PA
Rochester & Stroodpublished at 01:14 British Summer Time 8 May 2015
Piers Hopkirk
BBC South East Today
Conservatives in Medway are confident of overturning last November's by-election result, says BBC South East's Piers Hopkirk.
Image source, Getty Images
They're hoping to take Rochester & Strood back from UKIP.
South West Surreypublished at 01:03 British Summer Time 8 May 2015
Kathryn Langley
BBC Surrey
The first few ballot boxes opened so far in South West Surrey.
Folkestonepublished at 00:57 British Summer Time 8 May 2015
Stuart Maisner
BBC South East Today
Verification of ballot papers is well under way at the Folkestone count.
Brighton Kemptown and Brighton Pavilionpublished at 00:51 British Summer Time 8 May 2015
Bob Dale
BBC Sussex
All the ballot boxes are now at the Brighton Centre for the counts in Brighton Kemptown and Brighton Pavilion.
Results there are still hours away - with Brighton Kemptown expecting to declare at 07:00 BST and Brighton Pavilion at 08:00 BST.
East Surreypublished at 00:46 British Summer Time 8 May 2015
Sylvie Blackmore
BBC Surrey
According to hearsay, some voters in Caterham and Warlingham in the East Surrey constituency got lost on the way to their polling stations.
It turns out they had never voted before.
Doverpublished at 00:42 British Summer Time 8 May 2015
Chrissie Reidy
BBC South East Today
About 30,000 people have used a postal vote in Dover.
That makes up 25% of votes in the constituency.
Postpublished at 00:39 British Summer Time 8 May 2015
Louise Stewart
Political editor, South East
I've unpicked the funding figures after several party leaders called for money to be taken from the area for less prosperous ones.
Image source, Getty Images
I found the average spending per head per year in England was £8,678.
Out of all the English regions, public spending per head was lowest in the South East at £7,756 per year - 13% below the UK average.
Lewespublished at 00:32 British Summer Time 8 May 2015
Mark Sanders
BBC South East Today
Some of the media have set up camp at the in the soft play area. Plenty to do in the small hours. #GE2015 #Lewes
And here's the evidence.
Surrey Heathpublished at 00:28 British Summer Time 8 May 2015
Johnny Cantor
BBC Surrey
The Surrey Heath returning officer has given a clear message to counters.
They are under instructions to go for "accuracy not speed".
South Thanet & Faversham and Mid Kentpublished at 00:25 British Summer Time 8 May 2015
Before polls closed, voter Jo Howard said she had seen people walking away from a polling station in Bearsted - which is in the Faversham and Mid Kent constituency - because of long queues.
And a Broadstairs man who asked to remain anonymous told BBC South East Today voters were "queuing around the block" at a polling station in South Thanet.
Guildfordpublished at 00:20 British Summer Time 8 May 2015
More on that wristband "crisis" at the Guildford count and how to solve it.
Image source, Thinkstock
David Hearn tweets, external: "@AdrianHarms @BBCSurrey Get someone to pop across to the swimming pool and borrow some wrist bands from there. Might smell of chlorine ;)"
Brighton Kemptown and Lewespublished at 00:10 British Summer Time 8 May 2015
Louise Stewart
Political editor, South East
The exit poll suggests Brighton Kempton will stay Conservative, but it also suggests Liberal Democrat Norman Baker could lose Lewes.
Lewes has had a Conservative history but turned Lib Dem in 1997 when Mr Baker took over. He held on to it in 2010 with a majority of 7,647.
Sittingbourne & Sheppeypublished at 00:06 British Summer Time 8 May 2015
Natalie Eacersall
BBC South East Today
More "election colour" from the Sittingbourne & Sheppey count - with a briefcase of bananas.
This is Monster Raving Loony Party candidate Mad Mike Young, with fellow party member Sheikh Mi Hand.
Chichesterpublished at 23:59 British Summer Time 7 May 2015
Allison Ferns
BBC Sussex
Some news from the Chichester count.
They have put back the count by an hour. Apparently, this could indicate a high turnout.
Guildfordpublished at 23:49 British Summer Time 7 May 2015
Adrian Harms
BBC Surrey
I've been reporting about a "temporary crisis" - that the identification wristbands have run out at the Guildford count.