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| Labour admits defeat in key seat | |
| (21 minutes later) | |
| Labour has suffered its first blow of the Welsh assembly election after admitting defeat in the highly marginal seat of Llanelli. | |
| Before the result was declared, local Labour MP Nia Griffith said her party had lost. | |
| Labour AM Catherine Thomas had a majority of only 21 over Plaid Cymru in Wales' most marginal seat. | |
| It was the first concession by any party with counting under way to choose the next 60 members of the assembly. | |
| The first official results are expected not long after 0100 BST, but the last are not likely before 0600 BST. | |
| Labour is fighting to retain control of the assembly, but early signs are of a strong Tory performance in key seats. | Labour is fighting to retain control of the assembly, but early signs are of a strong Tory performance in key seats. |
| Expert Prof Roger Scully said: "I've been studying election results for over a decade, and I've never been as unsure as this year." | Expert Prof Roger Scully said: "I've been studying election results for over a decade, and I've never been as unsure as this year." |
| Prof Scully, who teaches international politics at Aberystwyth University, told BBC Radio Cymru: "At the moment we have no idea what the pattern of results will be." | Prof Scully, who teaches international politics at Aberystwyth University, told BBC Radio Cymru: "At the moment we have no idea what the pattern of results will be." |
| Llanelli MP Nia Griffith said voters were "ganging up on what they see as the best option to get rid of Labour". | |
| She added: "It's always the case when you've been in government after 10 years - it gets harder and harder." | |
| In total, 485 people are competing to win one of the 60 seats for the next four years. | In total, 485 people are competing to win one of the 60 seats for the next four years. |
| During the day, 82 Gower voters had to cast their votes again after a printing error led to the wrong candidates appearing on ballot papers. | During the day, 82 Gower voters had to cast their votes again after a printing error led to the wrong candidates appearing on ballot papers. |
| Letters were hand-delivered to their homes and they were also being contacted by phone urging them to return to their polling station. | Letters were hand-delivered to their homes and they were also being contacted by phone urging them to return to their polling station. |
| Fine weather may have helped turnout at the polling booths | Fine weather may have helped turnout at the polling booths |
| Returning officer Paul Smith said that every other polling station in Swansea was then checked to make sure there had not been any other printing errors. | Returning officer Paul Smith said that every other polling station in Swansea was then checked to make sure there had not been any other printing errors. |
| Thursday's election's results will decide who will form the assembly government, which is responsible for a £14bn budget in key areas such as health and education and which will have more powers than ever before. | Thursday's election's results will decide who will form the assembly government, which is responsible for a £14bn budget in key areas such as health and education and which will have more powers than ever before. |
| Of the 60 seats up for grabs, 40 are decided as constituency seats with the remaining 20 coming from regional lists. | Of the 60 seats up for grabs, 40 are decided as constituency seats with the remaining 20 coming from regional lists. |
| At the last election in 2003, Labour won 30 seats and formed the assembly government. Plaid Cymru were second with 12 seats, followed by 11 Tory AMs, six Liberal Democrats and one independent. | At the last election in 2003, Labour won 30 seats and formed the assembly government. Plaid Cymru were second with 12 seats, followed by 11 Tory AMs, six Liberal Democrats and one independent. |
| However, by the end of the assembly term, Labour were down to 29 seats and there were two independent AMs. | However, by the end of the assembly term, Labour were down to 29 seats and there were two independent AMs. |
| More than two million people were entitled to vote and politicians and pundits will also be looking closely at how many people made their way to the booths. | More than two million people were entitled to vote and politicians and pundits will also be looking closely at how many people made their way to the booths. |
| In 1999, 46% of voters turned out, which fell to 38% in 2003. Parties are hopeful this year's turnout will be helped by several factors including increasing familiarity with the assembly and the growing number of postal votes. | In 1999, 46% of voters turned out, which fell to 38% in 2003. Parties are hopeful this year's turnout will be helped by several factors including increasing familiarity with the assembly and the growing number of postal votes. |
| Some of the more unusual polling stations around the country included two hair salons, a bus, a petrol station, a supermarket and several pubs. | Some of the more unusual polling stations around the country included two hair salons, a bus, a petrol station, a supermarket and several pubs. |
| Coverage | Coverage |
| The election results are being covered in full by BBC Wales on the news website and on radio and TV in English and Welsh throughout the night. | The election results are being covered in full by BBC Wales on the news website and on radio and TV in English and Welsh throughout the night. |
| BBC One Wales - Election 2007, Thursday 2235 BST | BBC One Wales - Election 2007, Thursday 2235 BST |
| Huw Edwards with BBC Wales political editor Betsan Powys and Adrian Masters, featuring BBC Wales' biggest-ever outside broadcast with results from across the country. | Huw Edwards with BBC Wales political editor Betsan Powys and Adrian Masters, featuring BBC Wales' biggest-ever outside broadcast with results from across the country. |
| You can watch this online by selecting Election Special on the right of this page. | You can watch this online by selecting Election Special on the right of this page. |
| S4C - Etholiad 07, Thursday 2230 BST | S4C - Etholiad 07, Thursday 2230 BST |
| Live coverage from BBC Wales of all the results, presented by Dewi Llwyd with BBC Wales' Welsh Affairs Editor Vaughan Roderick, and Rhuanedd Richards. | Live coverage from BBC Wales of all the results, presented by Dewi Llwyd with BBC Wales' Welsh Affairs Editor Vaughan Roderick, and Rhuanedd Richards. |
| Interactive | Interactive |
| Digital satellite and cable TV viewers will also be able to use an interactive service giving highlights of the coverage from the Welsh and Scottish elections via the red button. | Digital satellite and cable TV viewers will also be able to use an interactive service giving highlights of the coverage from the Welsh and Scottish elections via the red button. |
| BBC Radio Wales - Assembly Election Special, Thursday 2200 BST | BBC Radio Wales - Assembly Election Special, Thursday 2200 BST |
| Bethan Rhys-Roberts and Richard Evans will anchor live coverage of results. Patrick Hannan is on hand to provide in-depth analysis and reaction to the results as they come in. | Bethan Rhys-Roberts and Richard Evans will anchor live coverage of results. Patrick Hannan is on hand to provide in-depth analysis and reaction to the results as they come in. |
| BBC Radio Cymru - Canlyniadau Etholiad y Cynulliad 2007, Thursday 2200 BST | BBC Radio Cymru - Canlyniadau Etholiad y Cynulliad 2007, Thursday 2200 BST |
| Garry Owen brings the latest results, with reports from correspondents at the counts and reactions by a panel of politicians. | Garry Owen brings the latest results, with reports from correspondents at the counts and reactions by a panel of politicians. |
| Online | Online |
| Full coverage of all the election counts and results will be available online. Betsan Powys will also be blogging throughout the night. | Full coverage of all the election counts and results will be available online. Betsan Powys will also be blogging throughout the night. |
| Mobile | Mobile |
| For the first time, BBC Wales is offering to send Welsh assembly constituency results via text messages to mobile phones. As soon as your result is declared after the polls close at 2200 BST on Thursday 3 May, the details will be sent to you. Register for alerts here | For the first time, BBC Wales is offering to send Welsh assembly constituency results via text messages to mobile phones. As soon as your result is declared after the polls close at 2200 BST on Thursday 3 May, the details will be sent to you. Register for alerts here |