Tim Loughton '˜shocked' by exit poll

The exit poll for the general election has come as '˜a shock' for veteran MP Tim Loughton.

Speaking at the vote count at the Assembly Hall in Worthing, the Conservative candidate for East Worthing and Shoreham said he was ‘confused’ at the poll published earlier this evening.

The exit poll, which aims to predict the election outcome by asking people how they voted outside polling stations, suggested Prime Minister Theresa May may be on course to lose her majority.

Mr Loughton said: “The exit poll came as something of a shock.

“We’re seeing a mixed result, it’s very clearly a two horse race.

“At this stage anything could happen.”

Closer to home, he said he expects the Labour vote will be up in his constituency, but would not comment on what he expects the result to be.

Mr Loughton held his seat in 2015 with a majority of more than 14,000.