General Election can solely imply one factor, canine at polling stations!
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After weeks of campaigning, polling stations open for voters to have their say at the General Election today, which means the return of the trend #dogsatpollingstations.
Millions of people will cast their vote between 7am and 10pm, with opinion polls suggesting Labour is on course to secure a big majority in the House of Commons.
Polling stations are now open, including the one in Kirby Sigston in North Yorkshire, where Prime Minister Rishi Sunak is expected to vote later.
Mr Sunak said today represents a ‘pivotal moment’ for the country’s future as he claimed Labour would ‘wield their unchecked power’ to increase taxes should they secure a ‘supermajority’.
Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer said the UK ‘cannot afford’ five more years under the Conservatives, adding Britain can ‘begin a new chapter’ under his party.
On a less serious note, dogs across the country are being snapped waiting dutifully for their owner to cast a vote.
#DogsAtPollingStations is one of the highest trends on X this morning, with adorable polling pooches seen next to signs.
One pup named Mavis was pictured high-fiving the camera, with her owner writing on X: ‘Paws up for change! Mavis feels getting in early is impawtent in Bury North on a day like this.’
Is YOUR dog at the polling station? Email your photos to [email protected]
One pup named Mavis was pictured high-fiving the camera, with her owner writing on X: ‘Paws up for change! Mavis feels getting in early is impawtent in Bury North on a day like this’
Spike dressed up especially for the occasion this morning
Edinburgh Council posted this smiling Golden Retriever called Ivy on X to remind people that only assistance dogs are allowed inside of the polling stations
This handsome dog was pictured in Crosby, Liverpool this morning
Many owners posted their photos with a reminder on social media, like this proud-looking dog
This sleepy collie was clearly not happy at being dragged out of bed early this morning for a picture by a polling station sign
This wide-awake foster dog is thrilled to be included as Roma is brought to the polling station
This dog is pointedly avoiding looking at the camera as its owner tries to get it to pose for the social media trend on Twitter/X
This young collie was a very good dog, tied up to a bench by the sign while waiting patiently
Edinburgh Council posted a smiling Golden Retriever called Ivy on X to remind people that only assistance dogs are allowed inside of the polling stations.
Some dogs, like one sleepy collie, were clearly not happy at being dragged out of bed early this morning for a picture by a polling station sign.
But one wide-awake foster dog named Roma was thrilled to be included as he was brought to the polling station.
Most of the dogs were pictured sitting patiently outside the polling stations and generally conducting themselves in a calm and considerate manner.
There are no specific rules banning dogs from inside polling stations, as this depends on whether the building which is being used for the vote usually allows them.
It comes after the Sun finally announced their last-minute endorsement of Sir Keir – to the fury of both readers and those in Liverpool a Labour stronghold which has long shunned the newspaper after the 1989 Hillsborough disaster.
An exit poll, published shortly after 10pm tonight, will provide the first indication of how the election has gone on a national level.
These take place at polling stations across the UK, with tens of thousands of people asked to privately fill in a replica ballot as they leave, to get an indication of how they voted.
The first of the 650 seats are likely to declare their results from 11.30pm.
Is YOUR dog at the polling station? Email your photos to [email protected]
This dog was pictured looking very proud by a polling station sign
But this naughty pooch refused to co-operate for the social media trend
A gorgeous fluffy Golden Retriever smiles for the camera this morning
Another sleepy terrier reluctantly poses – and hopes for treats as a reward
This majestic Golden Retriever is pictured in-between the doors to the polling station
While the campaigning has been full of the expected back-and-forth between the Tories and Labour in both speeches and social media jibes, the Lib Dems were arguably the highlight for many.
Leader Ed Davey made headlines daily for his wild stunts, ending them by driving off in a pink Cadillac convertible with his deputy Daisy Cooper after his last election campaign stop.
The Lib Dem leader gave a stump speech at Hammond’s End Farm in Harpenden to the tune of ABBA’s Take A Chance On Me.
Sir Ed said he had enjoyed the campaign, which saw him travel the entire length of the UK, cover 6,000 miles on the Lib Dem’s Yellow Hammer One bus and bungee 160 feet.
He added: ‘Communities are angry. The water companies have been allowed to pour their filthy sewage into our rivers, lakes and onto our beaches. This has to change. The Conservatives have got to go.’
Along his campaign he has entertained the public by doing everything from bungee jumping to surfing and paddle-boarding – but some argued it showed he wasn’t taking it seriously.
However he interspersed his light-hearted stunts with heart-warming and sincere insights into his personal life and caring for his son.
Is YOUR dog at the polling station? Email your photos to [email protected]
This alert dog looks straight at the camera, well-practised at being photographed
The owner of these two distracted pups tied them in-between two signs to try and get a photo
Dogs across England and Wales were out in full force at the polling stations today
The hashtag dogsatpollingstations is already trending on X, formerly Twitter, as it has on a host of other election days in recent years due to the cute photos, like this one
This Jack Russell looks back at the camera as he poses with signs in the background
This majestic spaniel in Wales is such a good dog, it doesn’t need a lead to pose
Sir Keir, writing on social media site X as polls opened, said: ‘Change. Today, you can vote for it.’
Ahead of 7am, Mr Sunak posted a series of messages on the same site, which urged voters to ‘stop the Labour supermajority’.
Green Party co-leader Adrian Ramsay, also writing on X, said: ‘Today’s the opportunity to vote for real hope and real change, in Waveney Valley, and across the country.’
Reform UK, led by Nigel Farage, posted an image asking people to ‘vote with your heart’, adding: ‘Vote for real change today. Vote Reform UK.’
The SNP tweeted: ‘Vote SNP to deliver independence, rejoin the EU, scrap the two-child benefit cap, invest in the just transition, protect free tuition.’
North of the border, Scotland’s First Minister has urged ‘every single SNP voter’ to turn out today in what he said will be an ‘incredibly close’ contest throughout the country.
Addressing supporters at a pre-election rally in Leith yesterday evening, John Swinney said the Conservatives were going to be ‘heavily defeated’ by the Labour Party in England.
But he added that there were ‘narrow margins’ between Labour and the SNP north of the border.
Is YOUR dog at the polling station? Email your photos to [email protected]
This well-behaved dog called Athena was pictured in Chislehurst, London this morning
Two tired collies pictured panting as they made an unexpected detour to the polling station
Another good dog is pictured standing proudly by the sign without a lead
