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| Voters head to the polls amid tightened security | Voters head to the polls amid tightened security |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| Voting is underway in the general election after polls opened across the UK at 7am on Thursday. | Voting is underway in the general election after polls opened across the UK at 7am on Thursday. |
| Theresa May was the first of the party leaders to vote, accompanied by her husband Philip, at a polling station in her constituency in Maidenhead, Berkshire. She greeted reporters and photographers with a cheery “hello” as she arrived at Sonning guide and scout hut. | Theresa May was the first of the party leaders to vote, accompanied by her husband Philip, at a polling station in her constituency in Maidenhead, Berkshire. She greeted reporters and photographers with a cheery “hello” as she arrived at Sonning guide and scout hut. |
| Jeremy Corbyn the Labour leader cast his vote shortly afterwards at Pakeman Primary School in Holloway, north London, in his Islington North seat. Wearing a red Labour rosette, he smiled, waved and spoke to voters, when he emerged from the polling station. | |
| “Thank you very much, all of you, for coming here today. It’s a day of our democracy. I’ve just voted. I’m very proud of our campaign. Thank you very much,” he said. | |
| In Scotland, the SNP leader Nicola Sturgeon said she was “feeling good” as she arrived to vote with her husband Peter Murrell at their polling station at Broomhouse Community Hall, in east Glasgow amid heavy rain. | |
| She gave a thumbs-up to about a dozen waiting photographers before going inside the hall. She said: “We’re focused today on getting out the vote. Voting SNP is the only way to ensure strong voices for Scotland, so I’m feeling good and hoping the weather improves as well.” | |
| Corbyn used a speech at his final rally in north London on Wednesday night to claim that he had reshaped British politics. “As we prepare for government, we have already changed the debate and given people hope. Hope that it doesn’t have to be like this; that inequality can be tackled; that austerity can be ended; that you can stand up to the elites and the cynics. This is the new centre ground.” | Corbyn used a speech at his final rally in north London on Wednesday night to claim that he had reshaped British politics. “As we prepare for government, we have already changed the debate and given people hope. Hope that it doesn’t have to be like this; that inequality can be tackled; that austerity can be ended; that you can stand up to the elites and the cynics. This is the new centre ground.” |
| May, meanwhile, made a final plea to voters to back her ahead of Brexit negotiations with the EU. “If we get Brexit right, we can build a Britain that is more prosperous and more secure – a Britain in which prosperity and opportunity is shared by all,” the Conservative leader said. | May, meanwhile, made a final plea to voters to back her ahead of Brexit negotiations with the EU. “If we get Brexit right, we can build a Britain that is more prosperous and more secure – a Britain in which prosperity and opportunity is shared by all,” the Conservative leader said. |
| “I can only build that better country and get the right deal in Brussels with the support of the British people. So whoever you have voted for in the past, if that is the future you want, then vote Conservative today and we can all go forward together.” | “I can only build that better country and get the right deal in Brussels with the support of the British people. So whoever you have voted for in the past, if that is the future you want, then vote Conservative today and we can all go forward together.” |
| Following the terror attacks in Manchester and London in recent days, security at polling stations has been reviewed and updated. Deputy assistant commissioner Lucy D’Orsi, the National Police Chiefs Council lead for protective security, said the election would take place during “unprecedented times”. | Following the terror attacks in Manchester and London in recent days, security at polling stations has been reviewed and updated. Deputy assistant commissioner Lucy D’Orsi, the National Police Chiefs Council lead for protective security, said the election would take place during “unprecedented times”. |
| The UK threat level stands at severe – the second-highest rating, meaning an attack is seen as “highly likely”, D’Orsi said. “We continue to ask the public to be alert and to report any concerns to police.” | The UK threat level stands at severe – the second-highest rating, meaning an attack is seen as “highly likely”, D’Orsi said. “We continue to ask the public to be alert and to report any concerns to police.” |
| Polling stations will remain open until 10pm, any anyone in the queue at that time will still be able to cast their vote. Those with a postal vote can also deliver it by hand to their local polling station on Thursday. | Polling stations will remain open until 10pm, any anyone in the queue at that time will still be able to cast their vote. Those with a postal vote can also deliver it by hand to their local polling station on Thursday. |
| A total of 46.9 million people are eligible to vote, according to figures compiled by the Press Association. Hundreds of thousands of people aged 18 to 34 applied to register to vote before last month’s closing date, including more than 450,000 on the final day. | A total of 46.9 million people are eligible to vote, according to figures compiled by the Press Association. Hundreds of thousands of people aged 18 to 34 applied to register to vote before last month’s closing date, including more than 450,000 on the final day. |
| A YouGov poll conducted at the start of June suggested support among 18 to 24-year-olds was at 71% for Labour, compared with 15% for the Tories. May’s party is strongly favoured by voters aged 65 and over, who are considered more likely to vote, by 62% to Labour’s 19%. | A YouGov poll conducted at the start of June suggested support among 18 to 24-year-olds was at 71% for Labour, compared with 15% for the Tories. May’s party is strongly favoured by voters aged 65 and over, who are considered more likely to vote, by 62% to Labour’s 19%. |
| The estimated turnout among 18-24 year-olds was 43% in 2015, compared with 78% for voters aged 65 and older. | The estimated turnout among 18-24 year-olds was 43% in 2015, compared with 78% for voters aged 65 and older. |
| Turnout was 66.2% across the UK in 2015 – an increase from the 65.1% in 2010 and also the highest since the 71.4% of 1997, suggesting it rises when people feel the result is uncertain and their vote is more likely to make a difference. | Turnout was 66.2% across the UK in 2015 – an increase from the 65.1% in 2010 and also the highest since the 71.4% of 1997, suggesting it rises when people feel the result is uncertain and their vote is more likely to make a difference. |
| If the turnout remained unchanged from 2015 across all ages, the Tories are expected to gain a small number of seats and secure a majority. | If the turnout remained unchanged from 2015 across all ages, the Tories are expected to gain a small number of seats and secure a majority. |
| Rain is forecast for some parts of the country on Thursday, although that may not deter those who want to have their say in an election that will decide whether or not May remains prime minister and is likely to determine if Corbyn continues to lead Labour. | Rain is forecast for some parts of the country on Thursday, although that may not deter those who want to have their say in an election that will decide whether or not May remains prime minister and is likely to determine if Corbyn continues to lead Labour. |