The interim figures for the London elections are being declared throughout the day on London Elects.  Counting is being carried out electronically.

In the contest for Mayor of London around 50% of the votes have been counted and verified. Progress in counting is being revealed in each of the large Assembly constituencies. The bar chart (which tantalisingly does not show the percentages – where did they get that idea from?) indicates that Sadiq Khan is substantially ahead of Zac Goldsmith on first preferences at the moment. Caroline Pidgeon is lying fourth just behind the Greens, but ahead of UKIP. Of course, this may change as the constituencies level up in their counting progress.

We are not expecting to win any of the Assembly constituency seats – each covers three or more Parliamentary constituencies – so our focus must be on the top-up party lists which will produce the London-wide members. Last time round we gained two seats from this, and we are hoping to gain two, possibly three, seats this time. At the moment, with slightly more than 50% verified ballots, the Greens, UKIP and Lib Dems are fighting for the three positions behind the two main parties. We are currently shown as fifth, but the three parties are too close to predict.

To add to the suspense, the progress in each of the contests will be frozen once 90% of the votes have been counted. We will then have to wait for the final result until it is formally announced from City Hall – this is expected at around 6pm, but could, of course, be delayed beyond that.

* Mary Reid is a contributing editor on Lib Dem Voice. She was a councillor in Kingston upon Thames, where she is still very active with the local party, and is the Hon President of Kingston Lib Dems.