All East Lancashire councils planning overnight election counts (From Lancashire Telegraph)

All East Lancashire councils planning overnight election counts

12:23pm Friday 12th March 2010 in

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BURNLEY’S next MP will be announced within hours of the polls closing.

The borough’s acting returning officer and Burnley Council chief executive Steve Rumbelow said votes cast in the parliamentary election will be counted and the result announced on election night.

It is expected Burnley’s next MP will be named in the early hours of Friday, May 7, the date many expect a General Election.

The move in Burnley means that all East Lancashire’s general election counts will be held the same night.

In Burnley, the General Election count will coincide with some council elections, with 15 out of the borough’s 45 wards out.

Mr Rumbelow said: “We’re currently working on the assumption that both the parliamentary and local elections will be held on the same day.

“However whatever happens, the general election result, and Burnley’s new MP, will be announced on the night of polling day.

“In the case of the local elections we will be counting those votes, and announcing the results, the day after polling day, that is Friday May 7.”

A new MP will be named in Burnley after Kitty Ussher announced she would stand down after just one term.

Political observers expect a General Election in May.