Full recount to take place after South Basildon and East Thurrock 'too close to call'

A NIGHT filled with drama has led to a full recount being called for the South Basildon and East Thurrock parliamentary seat.

At 6am this morning candidates were sent home and Thurrock Civic Centre closed as it was confirmed a recount will take place at 2pm this afternoon.

The seat was tightly-contested between Reform candidate, James Murdock, and Labour's Jack Ferguson.

After the initial count had finished at around 4am, Labour called for a bundle recount and Labour claimed "several mistakes" had been identified.

Adele Brown, Labour councillor and Deputy Leader of Basildon Council, said: "It's very obvious that numerous mistakes have been made.

"From a ballot paper for the Thurrock election being found to numerous bundles having the wrong party within them that affected not just Labour, but other parties.

"It showed that enough mistakes had been made that we could not trust the integrity of the count. The attorney has made the correct decision and one we have been pushing for."

The candidates for South Basildon and East Thurrock are Jack Ferguson (LAB), Stephen Metcalfe (CON), Elizabeth Grant (GRN), Dave Thomas (Lib Dem), James Murdock (Reform UK), Steve Burnett (Independent), Neil Speight (Independent) and Simon Breedon (Social Democratic Party).