Infographic: Follow as seats are filled in the UK election

By the early hours of Friday July 5, the vast majority of constituencies will have declared

What happens next depends on whether one party has earned a majority — 326 of the 650 seats. Picture: Andrew Matthews/PA Wire

The polls have closed and now the counting begins across Britain and Northern Ireland. 

Polling stations across the UK opened at 7am, giving millions of voters the chance to decide if Conservative leader Rishi Sunak should remain in the top job or if Labour's Keir Starmer should lead a new government.

Exit polls suggested Labour was on course to secure a big majority with 410 seats. You can follow the results live below from the 650 constituencies. 

By the early hours of Friday, the vast majority of constituencies will have declared, and Britain is likely to know which party has won the most seats.

What happens next depends on whether one party has earned a majority — 326 of the 650 seats. In reality, a working majority requires fewer seats because the Speaker and the three deputy speakers do not vote, and Sinn Féin MPs opt not to take their seats in Westminster.

If no party has a majority, then it becomes a hung parliament. In that case, the incumbent prime minister remains in power and is given the first chance to form a government – if they cannot form a government which commands the support of the majority of the House of Commons, they must resign to allow King Charles III to invite someone else to try.

UK election map:

 

Northern Ireland election map: 

Seat counter: