Following last night's amendment to the Constitutional Reform and Governance Bill, General Election Night has been saved.

For some months, local MP Tom Harris has been campaigning to ensure that the counting of ballots for the forthcoming general election should begin immediately after the close of polls and not, as some Returning Officers had wanted, the following day.  Tom, whose Early Day Motions on the matter marked the start of the campaign, has been working tirelessly to convince Returning Officers and the government that an overnight count is essential.

"I'm delighted with the result.  Britain deserves to know the election result as soon as possible after the close of the polls.  That's why I'm particularly glad we've got government support on this.  I was contacted by Michael Wills from the Ministry of Justice yesterday afternoon with the good news.  He explained that the government would be backing an amendment, New Clause 98, which states that except in exceptional circumstances the counting of votes must start within four hours after the close of the poll.  The only thing left to do now is hope that the relevant parts of the Bill now before the House make it intact to the statute book by the time parliament is prorogued in advance of the election.

"I'd also like to pay special thanks David Cairns MP, who secured an Adjournment Debate on this and co-signed the amendment.  The debate was instrumental in bringing this campaign to the government's attention.  It wouldn't have been a success without him."