Dr. Kate Dommett is a lecturer in the Public Understanding of Politics at the University of Sheffield. She is an advocate of political engagement and will be providing expert analysis as results are declared at counts across our region.
The Lib Dems are loosing MPs left, right and centre. Vince Cable, Ed Davey, Jo Swinson and Simon Hughes have all been voted out and Clegg is rumoured to be looking vulnerable. Even the bastion of Eastleigh is wobbling.
Elsewhere their vote is collapsing. The party kept all their deposits in 2010 (you loose £500 if you fail to get 5%of the vote), but they have lost thousands of pounds worth already this time round.
Ahead of tonight it was predicted that Lib Dem support would fracture in different directions with Labour, the Conservatives and SNP picking up seats from the Party. What is striking, however, is the number of seats falling to the Conservatives.
When Clegg entered into coalition it seemed that the partnership was more than a formal arrangement. Cameron and Clegg looked incredibly comfortable together and in the early days of government a cohesive partnership formed. But as the election approached the relationship became acrimonious to say the least. What friendship was there in 2010 now seems to be long gone, especially as the Conservatives are taking seat after seat from the Liberal Democrats. Being in coalition, it seems, does not win you any special treatment from your coalition partner.
At around 11pm on Friday night police were called to Darley Avenue in Athersley to reports that a man had been stabbed.
This Evening and Tonight: Showers or longer spells of rain are forecast through the evening and night.
For the second day running there were no deaths of people who tested positive for coronavirus in Scotland.