elsewhere across the country, it will be a good deal cooler with frequent showers and breezy weather. bye— bye. hello and welcome back once again to the bbc election studio at the new broadcasting house in london. this is where we have been the last 2a hours and having a close look at those assaults, as they started to come in —— those results. most of

the english councils have come in, or bar two, with quite heavy losses for the conservatives in many areas, a very upbeat performance by the lib dems, making quite impressive gains in some areas and labour making some more modest gains in terms of seats, but capturing a few high—profile local authorities, including barnett in london, westminster in london and wandsworth in london. the english picture, we will talk more about, the welsh picture too, most of those in scotland, as we have been discussing in the last few minutes, we have a firm picture there. the one big unknown is northern ireland, in terms of the full set of results, because we will have to wait for that into the early hours, maybe even until lunchtime tomorrow, but we already know that history is being made with sinn fein topping the poll there for the first time in elections to the assembly, so

history being made. as we speak, in northern ireland, with the votes being counted there. we will have lots of that to talk about after the news, and for that, here is shaun. thank you, huw, and hello if you've justjoined us. the prime minister says it's been a tough set of the elections for the conservative party. it lost hundreds of seats. labour took some of the tories�* flagship councils in london but made few significant gains elsewhere. but it was a good night all round for the liberal democrats and the green party. in scotland, the snp have once again finished as the biggest party, labour have come second, the conservatives suffered heavy losses. here's our political editor laura kuenssberg. her report contains some flashing images. ok, this is going well. trademark optimism, despite shedding councils and losing nearly 400 councillors too. from the safety of a primary school

classroom in his constituency, the prime minister didn't seem downcast. that's very good, that blue there. he lost iconic london councils, giving away comfortable conservative ground. and what are we going to have when we have the party? yet anger at downing street parties and his fine for breaking the law... there you go. ..did not translate to the catastrophe some conservatives had feared. it's mid—term and it's certainly a mixed set of results. and we've had a tough night in some parts of the country, but on the other hand, in other parts of the country, you're still seeing conservatives going forward and making quite remarkable gains in places that haven't voted conservative for a long time, if ever. not in london, where his labour rival had big reasons to smile this morning, winning over territory held by the tories for decades. we've just done it! westminster! wandsworth! steps forward, but outside london, perhaps not the big bold

strides labour needs. this is a massive turning point for the labour party. from the depths of 2019, we are back on track now for the general election, showing the hard change we've done in the last two years, what a difference it has made. have you heard from - durham police, sir keir? any comment on the police investigation? yet, as he travelled to celebrate success elsewhere, allegations over lockdown chased the labour leader. durham police will now investigate claims keir starmer broke the rules, having beer and curry with colleagues during lockdown. anything to say about - the investigation, sir keir? have you heard from durham police? he's always said nothing went wrong, but they are questions keir starmer will have to answer. voters' response to the lib dems was warm in many places, grabbing seats from labour in the northern city of hull, from the tories in kent's tunbridge wells, somerset and pockets of affluent london. the message to the tories

from some green suburbs will cause tory nerves. they are saying they've had enough of this prime minister. and i think the tectonic plates of british politics are shifting. now it's up to conservative mps to shove the prime minister into the abyss. remember, your votes stitch together a giant patchwork, not a picture that's the same in every corner of the country. cheering there was striking labour success in london... ..that will hurt for the tories, who broadly fell back further in the south than in the north of england. their coalition fraying more at its traditional end. but labour's jubilation in the capital wasn't always matched by enthusiasm elsewhere. the greens picking up pace too,

with dozens of gains. but while results in england perhaps confirmed much of the status quo, the scene is set for a genuine moment of change in northern ireland. applause look at this — for the first time, voters seem poised to make sinn fein the biggest party. that would be a moment of history and a moment of challenge and uncertainty for the uk. i'm very grateful for all of those people that came out and engaged in what was a very positive campaign. leaders whose dream is leaving the union for a united ireland would be in charge. that could also shift the political conversation in scotland, where the snp, who also want to leave the uk, continue their years of dominance. crucially, labour moves up into second place — the scottish tories in a slump — and grew in wales too, the biggest party profiting at the expense of the tories.

yet spin back a few weeks, many tories there feared a complete calamity. they've had a terrible time in some parts of the country, but this hasn't been a wipe—out. and labour has moved forward but not far or fast enough to be sure of power. remember, these elections give us clues, not concrete convictions of what's coming next, but it seems the two big parties are somehow locked in an uncomfortable status quo. that is very good. no dramatic breakthrough for his main rival, no total breakdown for the conservatives. borisjohnson has taken knocks today, but still stands to carry on. laura kuenssberg, bbc news. as laura was reporting,

durham police are investigating whether labour leader sir keir starmer broke lockdown rules on a visit during which he drank beer in an mp's office. the force initially decided that no offence had occurred in april last year, but said it had since received "significant new information". here's what the labour leader had to say on the matter this evening. as i've explained a number of times, we were working in the office, we stopped for something to eat. no party, no breach of the rules. the police, obviously, have got theirjob to do. we should let them get on with it. but i'm confident that no rules were broken. meanwhile, we've had a really good set of results today. the snp has emerged as the winner of the elections in scotland. labour have overtaken the conservatives to become the second biggest party for the first time in six years. with all results declared, the snp have gained 22 seats, while labour have added 20. the conservatives have lost 63 councillors. in wales, labour made gains, while the conservatives suffered significant losses. the latest results show labour has gained 65 seats and now controls eight councils. plaid cymru now oversees four councils. in northern ireland, sinn fein is on course for its best ever result

in a northern ireland assembly election after receiving the most first—preference votes. the unionist party, the dup, came second. with counting for the 90 stormont seats continuing tonight, sinn fein are, so far, well ahead of the dup as well as the alliance and ulster unionists. if you want to find out the election result in your area, head to the bbc news website or bbc news app and enter your postcode. you'll also find lots of election analysis and the latest reports from our teams around the country. those are the main election stories. now back to elections 2022. welcome back. it is the final 20 minutes or so of this marathon

broadcast, it is good to have you all with us, trying to tie up some of the loose and come and i am very pleased to be joined of the loose and come and i am very pleased to bejoined by of the loose and come and i am very pleased to be joined by two new guests, sonia sodha from the observer. and we also have tim stanley from the daily telegraph. lovely to have you as well. thank you forjoining us. if you just bear with me, i will be with you in just a moment, because i want to discuss with you in part what is going on in northern ireland as well as in england, wales and scotland, so let me bring in annita, my colleague i mcveigh in belfast. you've spoken to lots of guests, colleagues, and you've gotten quite a lot of information about how they see the next few weeks and months. given your own vantage point in your own knowledge of northern ireland, i'm just wondering, how do you see things as the count progresses now? we have got how many left to

declare? and when do you think we will have a full set? we declare? and when do you think we will have a full set?— will have a full set? we are “ust over a will have a full set? we are 'ust a third �* will have a full set? we are 'ust over a third of i will have a full set? we are 'ust over a third of the i will have a full set? we are 'ust over a third of the way i will have a full set? we are justj over a third of the way through, will have a full set? we are just i over a third of the way through, so we now have 31 of the seats declared out of a total of 90 to be declared. it has definitely been moving much slower than anticipated, because it was my understanding the chief electoral officer was hoping that this could all be done and dusted tonight, or certainly into the early hours of tomorrow morning, but it is moving really quite slowly, so the decision has been made that they are going to stop counting around 11pm tonight and come back tomorrow morning, notjust here but at the other two count centres in northern ireland, so we won't get the third tell for picture until tomorrow afternoon. i think it might be the middle of the afternoon before we get those for a set of results. talking earlier, and you are expending to us, what has happened in terms of the outcome of the boat there, the

—— the vote, the fact that sinn fein have come out on top of the first time. what is your sense of what they want to do with that new success and their coming strategy? i spoke to the leader of sinn fein a little earlier, and she said their priority was to deal with those bread—and—butter issues that lots of people, your respective of the political traditions and background, have been talking about in this campaign, the bread and butter issues like cost—of—living crisis, health care and education and so on, but i put to her the issue of the timeframe for the question of irish unity. interestingly, sinn fein have not talked about this during them —— theircampaign. it —— their campaign. it has been the democratic unionist party saying, if they get first minister, a poll will

follow. they said... she said she thought it would be within a decade and she said her personal view was that it would be within five years, so i said to her, do you understand the concerns of unionists and members of sinn fein that i've spoken to have told me, yes, they do, so it is going to be interesting to see what the response is from unionists to that cologne we get the full set of results and see exactly where the parties are to one another, and as for the unionist side, i've spoken to several figures from the dup. there is a protocol, any party leader has repeated that there can be no return to a power—sharing assembly at stormont

unless their concerns over the protocol are sorted of —— they are anti—protocol. that is between the westminster government and the eu to sort out those concerns to their satisfaction.— satisfaction. when we look at a otential satisfaction. when we look at a potential appointment - satisfaction. when we look at a potential appointment of - satisfaction. when we look at a potential appointment of a - satisfaction. when we look at a potential appointment of a new satisfaction. when we look at a - potential appointment of a new first minister, and again there's been lots of speculation about what if sinn fein came on top of the poll and then nominated michelle o'neill, let's say, as first minister, what the dup would do in that circumstance. can you shed a little light on what would happen in that circumstance?— circumstance? i thick it is fair to sa that circumstance? i thick it is fair to say that the _ circumstance? i thick it is fair to say that the dup _ circumstance? i thick it is fair to say that the dup in _ circumstance? i thick it is fair to say that the dup in particular i circumstance? i thick it is fair to l say that the dup in particular has been asked this question over and over again throughout the campaign, and they have not said, when asked, if sinn fein top people and have yet to nominate the position of first minister, will you nominate a member in your party to the position of deputy first minister, and they have said they won't most put that to

sinn fein, she said that since the good friday agreement, it has always been a unionist in the position of first minister and sinn fein as deputy first minister, and she said this isjust democracy deputy first minister, and she said this is just democracy and the dup need to make that nomination if the position is reversed. but the thing is, the dup are saying that they are not going to return to the executive, so it is possible, therefore, they can actually avoid going through that process of nomination or say they won't nominate until those issues with the protocol are sorted out to their satisfaction, which brings us back to this whole idea of, is politics functional or dysfunctional in northern ireland ? functional or dysfunctional in northern ireland? there are eight days after the mla is returned when they have to meet at stormont, to potentially denominate, and if that nomination does not happen, we go into an extended period, another six months of talks, about trying to get

power—sharing up and running again in northern ireland. at the end of that period, if nothing happens, there is the potential for another election, but obviously lots of people are hoping, and a lot of people are hoping, and a lot of people on the doorsteps have been saying they want politics to work in a functional way here, they want their simply members back at stormont, making decisions on issues that affect their daily lives. but we could be in a position, where there is a continuing stalemate. annita, many things once again, and thanks for the interviews with all the guests. it has been a really useful evening, so thanks very much to annita and the team there. and to reeta, who is in this building with me, though not in the studio, just let's have a final state of affairs from you, if we can, because we have been looking at the various

component parts of the election as we have gone through from last night, so with the vast majority of these council results in, why don't you take us through what we have? fits you take us through what we have? s you take us through what we have? is you can see, in england, just two councils left to be declared, so this is pretty much the settled picture in england, and labour, you can see, have won this election, they have picked up 52 councillors also but it is not the great big advanced they might have wished to see, particularly in parts of the country. i will come to a bit more detail in the moment. the conservatives have had a bad night of it. they have lost 341 councillors. this isjust in england. if you take in wales and scotland, they have lost 46 -- 486 —— 486 councillors. that is a poor performance, and we have heard conservative councillors bemoaning the loss of their colleagues, bemoaning their performance. that is something that is going be picked

overin something that is going be picked over in the coming days and weeks, i am sure. the lib dems by contracts have had a really good night —— by contrast. the greens have doubled the number of councillors. they have added 60 councillors in england and they are now on 113. as i said, let us have a look at some of the individual results, and this screen really tells a tale of conservative woes, because westminster, a big totemic, london borough council which had been conservative since its inception, it has gone red. labour also took wandsworth and barnet from the conservatives, so they inflicted real pain in london. they have also taken support from the conservatives in the south of england, southampton taken from the conservatives. the conservatives

have lost control of monmouthshire in wales, and that was the only council in wales they had overall control of until this election. they have lost control in west oxfordshire, which is where david cameron had his sheet, in huntington sure, wherejohn major had his seat when he was in parliament. another story of the conservatives losing support and labour benefiting from it. the snp remain pre—eminent in scotland and dundee is again for them from no overall control, and the lib dems are —— a strong performance from them, particular in london and the southeast, where they have gained gospel from the conservatives. if you want to find out what has happen in your area, you want to find out what has happen in yourarea, go you want to find out what has happen in your area, go to the bbc news website, put in your postcode and you will find out what happened in

your area. you can find that on the website or on the bbc news app, so i would encourage you to use it. reeta, fantastic. thanks very much to you and the team for all the information you brought us from last night and all through today, so many thanks to reeta. i have sonia with me here and tim on the line. first of all, big thought. where are we tonight? i of all, big thought. where are we toniaht? ~ ,., ., of all, big thought. where are we toniaht? ~ ., , tonight? i think both of the parties have something to _ tonight? i think both of the parties have something to take _ tonight? i think both of the parties have something to take solace - tonight? i think both of the parties have something to take solace in l tonight? i think both of the parties l have something to take solace in but also something to be disappointed about. forthe also something to be disappointed about. for the conservatives, actually, they lost a lot of seats today. i think probably, it all comes down to, what does this mean for the future of borisjohnson, i think, ithink for the future of borisjohnson, i think, i think probably you are not going to see his mps move against him in the next few weeks. there are a few things moving for him, the fact that there is not a successor still, but he disappointing night for the conservatives. for labour, i think there are some bright spots.

there are some bright spots in scotland, were labour have overtaken the conservatives, in wales, in london, but if you look at the rest of england, labour are not in a position to win a majority in 2024, which i think is what labour supporters will be looking at, so i think it is ok with some bright spots but not as good as it could be. ~ ., , spots but not as good as it could be. . . , �*,, spots but not as good as it could be. what is labour's big problem? i ersonall be. what is labour's big problem? i personally think— be. what is labour's big problem? i personally think they _ be. what is labour's big problem? i personally think they have - be. what is labour's big problem? i personally think they have an - be. what is labour's big problem? i personally think they have an issue | personally think they have an issue with the leader, sir keir starmer. keir starmer, he has a lot of assets as a leader, but one of his big downsides is he is not as able a communicator as some labour politicians, the real winning politicians, the real winning politicians like tony blair have beenin politicians like tony blair have been in the past, and i think for labour to be thinking on doing very well in 2024, they need a leader who can speak to what is now quite a diverse electoral coalition. it combines traditional working—class voters, quite affluent young voters in university towns, you've got to have somebody who says, this is what

labour is for, this is our vision, this is what we stand for. at the moment, it feels to me that labour is a party that is trading off and reacting against some of the scandals happening to the conservatives. that can take you quite a long way, particularly in a set of local elections which is about delivering a message to the government, but i think mostly in aliss would agree that labour is not where they need to be if they were looking at winning a majority, and i do think that comes down to keir starmer. ., , ., , , . starmer. tim, nearly 24 hours since the olls starmer. tim, nearly 24 hours since the polls close- _ starmer. tim, nearly 24 hours since the polls close. where _ starmer. tim, nearly 24 hours since the polls close. where do _ starmer. tim, nearly 24 hours since the polls close. where do you - starmer. tim, nearly 24 hours since the polls close. where do you see i the polls close. where do you see things now that most of these votes have been counted? i things now that most of these votes have been counted?— have been counted? i agree with a lot of that analysis. _ have been counted? i agree with a lot of that analysis. in _ have been counted? i agree with a lot of that analysis. in a _ have been counted? i agree with a lot of that analysis. in a lot - have been counted? i agree with a lot of that analysis. in a lot of - lot of that analysis. in a lot of ways, — lot of that analysis. in a lot of ways, it — lot of that analysis. in a lot of ways, it feels like a stalemate and the perfect book and to the election campaign was keir starmer being hit with beergate. this should have been a triumphant moment for him, but instead _ a triumphant moment for him, but instead he — a triumphant moment for him, but instead he was hit with something he attacks_ instead he was hit with something he attacks the _ instead he was hit with something he attacks the prime minister on an... labour_ attacks the prime minister on an... labour did — attacks the prime minister on an... labour did do very well, there is no

denying _ labour did do very well, there is no denying that. they essentially won this election and coming in second his comment is particular important, strengthened its position in wales. it is strengthened its position in wales. it is clearly — strengthened its position in wales. it is clearly dominant in london. it did not— it is clearly dominant in london. it did not do— it is clearly dominant in london. it did not do quite so in the red ball. it did not do quite so in the red ball. it could _ did not do quite so in the red ball. it could catch up. nonetheless, there _ it could catch up. nonetheless, there still— it could catch up. nonetheless, there still problems. is keir starmer's relationship with the british— starmer's relationship with the british people and his charisma, or lack of— british people and his charisma, or lack of it — british people and his charisma, or lack of it. another is the coalition is quite _ lack of it. another is the coalition is quite fractured. the lib dems are giggly— is quite fractured. the lib dems are giggly have — is quite fractured. the lib dems are giggly have a better night. they gained — giggly have a better night. they gained four times as many council seats— gained four times as many council seats as _ gained four times as many council seats as labour did andy green party. — seats as labour did andy green party, with 60 seats, gained eight more _ party, with 60 seats, gained eight more sees — party, with 60 seats, gained eight more sees the neighbour did. they are starting — more sees the neighbour did. they are starting from lower tallies to begin— are starting from lower tallies to begin with, but the point is the percussive alliance against the tories — percussive alliance against the tories is — percussive alliance against the tories is rather split —— progressive alliance. the most significant result of the night is northem— significant result of the night is northern ireland, where it looks

likem _ northern ireland, where it looks likem de — northern ireland, where it looks like... de dup's refusalto continence sinn fein taking the leading — continence sinn fein taking the leading position in the executive has actually ironically encouraged nationalists to coalesce around sinn fein _ nationalists to coalesce around sinn fein i_ nationalists to coalesce around sinn fein ithink— nationalists to coalesce around sinn fein. i think in historical terms, that— fein. i think in historical terms, that was— fein. i think in historical terms, that was most important. can fein. i think in historicalterms, that was most important.- fein. i think in historicalterms, that was most important. can i ask ou that was most important. can i ask you whether. _ that was most important. can i ask you whether. in — that was most important. can i ask you whether, in your— that was most important. can i ask you whether, in your view, - that was most important. can i ask you whether, in your view, boris i you whether, in your view, boris johnson's position as leader and prime minister is more or less precarious tonight than it was last night? it precarious tonight than it was last ni . ht? , precarious tonight than it was last niuht? ,,.,,.,_ precarious tonight than it was last niuht? ,, , night? it is probably exactly as it was before. _ night? it is probably exactly as it was before, and _ night? it is probably exactly as it was before, and he _ night? it is probably exactly as it was before, and he will- night? it is probably exactly as it was before, and he will take - night? it is probably exactly as it was before, and he will take a i night? it is probably exactly as it| was before, and he will take a lot ofm _ was before, and he will take a lot ofm he — was before, and he will take a lot ofm he will— was before, and he will take a lot of... he will take courage from some of... he will take courage from some of the _ of... he will take courage from some of the results — of... he will take courage from some of the results in the redwall, he will take a — of the results in the redwall, he will take a lot of courage from the sudden rise again of beergate, but having _ sudden rise again of beergate, but having said all of that, i do think the tories — having said all of that, i do think the tories are in the long run in trouble, — the tories are in the long run in trouble, and brexit changed voting patterns _ trouble, and brexit changed voting patterns in the north, yes of it also _ patterns in the north, yes of it also change them in the south, in less attention has been given to that _ less attention has been given to that the — less attention has been given to that. the lib dems and greens are rising _ that. the lib dems and greens are rising down— that. the lib dems and greens are rising down here, i am in kent, and

the conservatives are alienating traditional part of their constituency. i think the conservatives will have a tougher time _ conservatives will have a tougher time in _ conservatives will have a tougher time in the — conservatives will have a tougher time in the south than they have a. that is— time in the south than they have a. that is a _ time in the south than they have a. that is a fascinating point, and thatis that is a fascinating point, and that is the point that i think really needs to be aired more than it has been, sonia, because post when he 17 and post 2019, these robust voting patterns of the past have been shattered. what the lib dems have shown, in the south of england, is the tories face very different challenge, don't they? i think that is right, i think what is interesting is if you take today's results and apply them to what would happen if there is a general election and people were voting in the same way, is the conservatives would lose their majority, they might not even be the largest party any more, labour might be the largest party, but it is still hard to see labour getting a majority

under these sort of voting patterns. what you would see is probably, if this holds up, and it might not, but if it holds up, you'll probably see a labour minority government supported by the snp and the liberal democrats. that is a very different form of politics to one we have known before, and actually what that might mean is you get a progressive coalition, but one that is focused in the first year or two, all about the scottish independence referendum and whether that happens, and that is a very different type of politics took, say, the politics we saw in 97, which is the last time we saw a very big progressive majority delivered to the labour party and might not be what people were expecting. so i think we have got something different on the cards, but you never know, we might see something very similar to what happened in 1974, where labour becomes a minority administration and there is an election quite quickly, but this does all contribute to the sense that british

politics is changing, and the date of very big swings to the left from the rate may be over, because it is so fractured. the rate may be over, because it is so fractured-— the rate may be over, because it is so fractured. sonia, good to talk to ou, so fractured. sonia, good to talk to you. and tim. _ so fractured. sonia, good to talk to you, and tim, thank _ so fractured. sonia, good to talk to you, and tim, thank you _ so fractured. sonia, good to talk to you, and tim, thank you very - so fractured. sonia, good to talk to j you, and tim, thank you very much forjoining us and contribute into the discussion. sirjohn curtice, as usual and as is right, gets the last word, and, john, you have put in a stellar performance once again. can i think you on behalf of the team for all the work you have done. a few minutes left. when we look at these results and we have people like sonia and tim and others telling us that the lesson here is we see a system that has been fractured and alliances have been changed, is that the main lesson we draw from these results, reinforcing that change? i draw from these results, reinforcing that change?— that change? i am not sure the lesson -- _ that change? i am not sure the lesson -- that _ that change? i am not sure the lesson -- that is _ that change? i am not sure the lesson -- that is the _ that change? i am not sure the lesson -- that is the lesson - that change? i am not sure the lesson -- that is the lesson i l that change? i am not sure the i lesson -- that is the lesson i draw lesson —— that is the lesson i draw from these particular results, because british politics began to be

fractured at least five years ago in the wake of the eu referendum, and a part but we are not sickly seeing is that continuing to be —— in part but we are simply seeing is that continued to be played out. certainly, the fact that the liver democrats are going to start charging the conservatives in the south of england, in one sense, i think one could interpret that to return of some of these traditional depositors from before brexit. one of the interesting thing about liver democrats success in the structure north by election and success in somerset is a party is beginning to be able to act as a party of protest evenin be able to act as a party of protest even in leave voting areas —— liberal democrats. and despite the fact that, of all the parties, it is the most associated with opposition to brexit, but a real sense the liberal democrats going back to their traditional role, so i am not sure i take the view the main lesson

tonight is... certainly british politics is different, but something we should take for granted in british politics but disappeared after the decision of the liberal democrats to enter into government in 2010, might be returning. its, democrats to enter into government in 2010, might be returning.- in 2010, might be returning. a very brief question. _ in 2010, might be returning. a very brief question, sorry _ in 2010, might be returning. a very brief question, sorry to _ in 2010, might be returning. a very brief question, sorry to rush - in 2010, might be returning. a very brief question, sorry to rush you i in 2010, might be returning. a very brief question, sorry to rush you at| brief question, sorry to rush you at the end here, a big battle between searchers, endorsed johnson — how should we be seeing that battle in the light of these results —— with borisjohnson and keir starmer? i argued the ultra limit of what the conservatives could really possibly lose was about one in four of the seats they were defending, ie 350 seats. what if we discovered the conservatives have lost? 350 seats. so although these elections have not produced dramatic headlines of thousands of seat losses or changes of counsel control, actually, for this particular set of local

elections in these particular circumstances, the loss the conservatives suffered is quite heavy. it isjust conservatives suffered is quite heavy. it is just that we thought labour would be who would inflict the damage rather than the liberal democrats, so for labour, while it has recovered from the very poor set of local election results last year, we are still looking at the opposition, as tim and sonia suggested, that has enough lot of work to do persuading the public to regard it as an effective alternative government as perhaps sometimes a party that is a reasonable opposition to the current administration. 5ir reasonable opposition to the current administration.— administration. sirjohn curtice, thank ou administration. sirjohn curtice, thank you very _ administration. sirjohn curtice, thank you very much _ administration. sirjohn curtice, thank you very much indeed, i administration. sirjohn curtice, | thank you very much indeed, for administration. sirjohn curtice, i thank you very much indeed, for a concluding thought at this nearly 24 hour broadcast of elections in england, scotland and wales, and the assembly elections in northern ireland. i would like to thank the team involved in a big production like this, because it is an enormous team, so to all of those behind the

scenes, an army of