Postal votes in Richmond

The Guardian are reporting that:

'Zac Goldsmith, the millionaire ecologist and Tory candidate hoping to take affluent Richmond Park from the Lib Dem incumbent Susan Kramer, has just arrived at the count at Richmond College looking tanned and relaxed.

But he may have a long wait. Originally the declaration was expected around 4am. But now we are being told that because of the high turnout there is unlikely to be a result before 5am, and quite possibly a lot longer after that.

The reason being given is that the returns on postal votes have been "phenomenal" to quote one source.

And all have to be verified before the count proper can start.'

The postal votes factor may well be the big story of this election and will need sorting before the next general election.