July 4th 2024.
As the highly anticipated General Election results were being announced live on air, Conservative Party MP Steve Baker found himself in an awkward position. The Member of Parliament for Wycombe was informed by BBC news that he had a less than 1% chance of retaining his seat. The host, Reeta Chakrabarti, delivered the news while presenting the projected results and expressed her apologies for putting him in such a tough spot. "Steve Baker, who is here with us in the studio, I'm sorry to have to put you on the spot like this, but the numbers are showing that you have a less than 1% chance of holding onto your seat," she said.
Meanwhile, Mr. Baker maintained a composed smile despite the disappointment evident in his eyes. Chakrabarti went on to mention that other Conservative MPs, Iain Duncan Smith and Grant Shapps, were also facing a tough fight in their respective constituencies. The tension and excitement of the election were palpable as the nation eagerly awaited the final results.
In the midst of all the election buzz, Metro's live blog was the go-to source for the latest updates on the 2024 General Election. Readers could also sign up for their weekly newsletter to receive in-depth analysis, news, and views straight to their inbox. For those on the go, there was the option to join their WhatsApp channel for quick bulletins and breaking news. And for the younger crowd, Metro was also keeping up with the times and delivering myth-busting, voter opinions, and news on TikTok.
As the exit polls were released, the forecast showed a landslide victory for the Labour party, with the Conservatives facing their worst ever defeat. Mr. Baker was once again reminded of his slim chances of winning as the poll predicted a mere 1% chance for him. According to the poll, Labour was projected to win a staggering 410 seats, while the Conservatives were lagging behind with only 131 seats. The Liberal Democrats, on the other hand, were poised to overtake the SNP as the third-largest party in the House of Commons with 61 seats.
This exit poll, commissioned jointly by major British news broadcasters, was based on extensive research conducted by interviewers at 133 polling stations in marginal constituencies across the country. However, in the weeks leading up to the election, the Conservative party had been actively promoting the idea that their opposition was set to win by a large majority in the House of Commons. Just 24 hours before the polls opened, Pensions Secretary Mel Stride had confidently predicted on the Today programme that Labour was likely to win "the largest majority that any party has ever achieved." But as the results started pouring in, it seemed like the Tories' predictions were far from accurate.
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