The Bradley Stoke Journal

Conservative Jack Lopresti has run out the clear winner in the vote for the Filton and Bradley Stoke constituency.

Labour’s candidate Ian Boulton defied the bookies’ odds to clinch second place by a narrow margin over Peter Tyzack of the Liberal Democrats.

Full result:

• Jack Lopresti (Conservative) 19,686
• Ian Boulton (Labour) 12,772
• Peter Tyzack (Liberal Democrats) 12,197
• John Knight (UKIP) 1,506
• David Scott (BNP) 1,328
• Jon Lucas (Green Party) 441
• Ruth Johnson (Christian Party) 199
• Vote Zero-None-Of-The-Above 172

Photos from the count: album; slideshow (PicasaWeb)

How the count unfolded at Bradley Stoke Leisure Centre

A sterling performance by the count team from South Gloucestershire Council saw the result declared by just after 1:15am, well in advance of the 4am estimate of the Press Association. This was despite the constituency registering a massive 70.1% turnout, compared to the national average of around 65%.

Ballot boxes began arriving at Bradley Stoke Leisure Centre within minutes of the polling stations closing at 10pm and the majority had been delivered within the first half hour.

(more…)

Bradley Stoke has seven polling stations open today for voting in the 2010 General Election.

Voters have a choice of eight candidates vying to be the first Member of Parliament for the newly-created Filton and Bradley Stoke (FABS) constituency.

The local polling stations (open until 10pm) are:

• Brook Way Activity Centre
• Jubilee Centre, Savages Wood Road
• Holy Trinity Church, Broad Croft
• Baileys Court Activity Centre
• Evangelical Church, Baileys Court Road
• St Joseph’s Centre, Juniper Way
• Church of Christ the King, Mautravers Close

Bradley Stoke Mayor Mark Forsyth (Conservative), pictured acting as a teller outside the polling station at the Brook Way Activity Centre, told The Journal that he had seen a healthy stream of voters throughout the morning, which he attributed to the interest generated by the televised Prime Ministerial Debates.

The Journal will be reporting LIVE from tonight’s constituency count at Bradley Stoke Leisure Centre, starting at 10pm.

Officers at South Gloucestershire Council have said that they are unable to predict when the result will be announced but the Press Association estimates it will be at around 4am.

Follow us on Twitter for the latest gossip, news and photos.

More Information: FABS General Election 2010 (The Journal)

The closely-fought battle for the newly-created constituency of Filton and Bradley Stoke (FABS) has seen Jack Lopresti (Conservative) edge back into a small lead, according to the Electoral Calculus website.

The political prediction website had previously given Liberal Democrat candidate Peter Tyzack a tiny 0.15% lead – on the back of the national ‘Clegg Effect’, which peaked after the second televised Prime Ministerial Debate.

The latest figures, compiled on 2nd May, predict a 2.88% victory for Mr Lopresti.

A similar change has been reflected in the odds offered by bookmakers Ladbrokes, with Mr Lopresti shortening to 2/5, Mr Tyzack lengthening to 5/2 and Ian Boulton (Labour) also lengthening to 10/1 (but as long as 41/1 on Betfair).

The Bristol Evening Post still sees the seat as a three-way marginal but The Guardian reckons that the ‘Glegg Effect’ may have turned the contest into a two horse race [PDF, 715KB] with Labour supporters “facing a tough decision” that could swing the result either way.

The Bradley Stoke Journal will be reporting live from the count at Bradley Stoke Leisure Centre on Thursday night.

More information: FABS General Election (The Journal)

Local Liberal Democrats have been buoyed by the news that a well-known election prediction website is forecasting a narrow victory for their candidate in the Filton and Bradley Stoke (FABS) constituency.

The Electoral Calculus website, which claims to incorporate regional as well as national swings in its modelling, is currently predicting that Peter Tyzack (Liberal Democrat) will take the seat with a tiny 0.15% margin over Jack Lopresti (Conservative).

Mr Lopresti, however, remains the clear favourite with the bookmakers, although his odds have lengthened from an initial 1/6 to 1/2 [at Ladbrokes].

Mr Tyzack’s chances are now rated at 2/1, having been 6/1 at the start of the campaign.

Ladbrokes are currently offering 8/1 against Labour candidate Ian Boulton taking the seat, although significantly longer prices are available elsewhere [e.g. 29/1 on Betfair].

All eyes will now be on tonight’s third and final televised Prime Ministerial Debate (BBC1 8:30pm), which could prove decisive – both nationally and locally.

Related links:

• Election leaflets delivered in FABS (The Straight Choice)
• Latest news from the FABS candidates (The Journal)

Voters in the new Filton and Bradley Stoke constituency will have a choice of eight candidates when they go the polls on Thursday 6th May.

Previously announced Conservative, Labour, Liberal Democrat, Green, UKIP and BNP candidates have now been joined by Ruth Johnson of The Christian Party and ‘Mr Vote Zero-None-Of-The-Above‘ (formerly known as Eric Mutch).

The Electoral Register closed yesterday but already-registered persons can still make an application for proxy voting until 5pm on Tuesday 27th April.

Bradley Stoke’s polling stations will be at Brook Way Activity Centre, Jubilee Centre, Holy Trinity Church, Baileys Court Activity Centre, Bradley Stoke Evangelical Church, St Mary’s Primary School and Church of Christ the King.

Counting of votes for the whole constituency will take place at Bradley Stoke Leisure Centre and will begin “as soon as is practicable after 10pm on the day of poll”, according to South Gloucestershire Council (SGC).

Related links:

• Filton and Bradley Stoke – General Election 2010 (The Journal)
• Election Information (SGC)