Originally published on May 6 2010

As polls closed across Britain on the May 6^th General Election, Meadowbank Stadium was a flurry of activity as counting began for all five Edinburgh constituencies.

Final ballot boxes arrived for Edinburgh North and Leith and Edinburgh East arrived at 22:00.

Counters are seated 4 to a table in 3 halls. Officials expect counting to last into the early hours of Friday morning, perhaps as late as 04:00.

The BBC, using an exit poll, has predicted a hung Parliament with the Conservatives short of a majority by 19 seats.

Labour is predicted to win 255 seats and the Liberal Democrats are set to take 59. Exit polls do not include postal votes.

Edinburgh constituencies have so far defied national trends, with all five seats predicted to go either to Labour or the Liberal Democrats.

The Times have predicted that Edinburgh South and Edinburgh West will swing from Labour to the Liberal Democrats, to candidates Fred Mackintosh and Kevin Lang respectively.

Michael Crockart is expected to maintain the Liberal Democrat hold on Edinburgh West.

Labour is predicted to retain Edinburgh South West, currently held by Chancellor of the Exchequer Alistair Darling and Edinburgh East for candidate Sheila Gilmore.