Ms Lucas, who is contesting Brighton Pavilion, needs to overturn a decent Labour majority of 6523 (or 14.2%) in 2005 to take the seat.

The seat was due to be announced at 3am this morning (May 7) and television coverage unofficially announced it had been taken by Ms Lucas.

However, the official line is that a count will not be made until 5am or possibly later due, like much of the country, to a higher than expected turn out.

Ms Lucas was elected as one of the Green Party’s first MEPs in June 1999 to represent the south east of England region, and was re-elected with an increased vote share in 2004.

Luke Walsh

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