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Everyone's settling in for a long night after the exit poll predicted a hung parliament

Are we heading for a hung parliament?
Are we heading for a hung parliament? Are we heading for a hung parliament?

With opinion polling data having differed so wildly over the course of the election campaign, all eyes were on the release of the exit poll.

Exit poll data for the General Election
Exit poll data for the General Election

When the numbers suggested we could be heading for a hung parliament, there was surprise among many – even seasoned pollsters.

But to most people it meant just one thing – they were going to have to stay up all night to watch the results coming in.

Some people pointed out the exit poll was similar to the one from 2015, which underestimated the number of seats the Tories went on to win.

So what tactics were people employing to stay awake? One word: coffee.

The exit poll – carried out by Ipsos-MORI for the BBC, ITV and Sky – projected the Conservatives as the biggest party with 314 seats, down from 331, and Labour on 266.That would not be enough for an overall majority for any party and would therefore mean a hung parliament.