It was a momentous night in the Emirates Arena in Glasgow when Labour swept to power across the UK. It was also my first time attending an electoral count, where sugary treats and coffee fuelled a memorable experience amid the quiet tension and explosive celebrations of election night.

*Scottish Labour and their party leader, Anas Sarwar, celebrate their win in Glasgow.*

Words by Devon McCole | Photos by Samar Jamal

Election night in the UK is always an exciting event, and this year was no exception. The Emirates Arena in Glasgow, more usually used for track and cycling events, served as the count centre, buzzing with anticipation as the nation held its breath for one of the most significant general elections in recent history.

I was there for my first count, reporting for Greater Govanhill. I arrived clutching bags of snacks and armed with tips from other independent journalists up and down the country. They’d advised me to bring plenty of sugary sweets and enough caffeinated drinks to keep me up.

Read more: Labour takes Govanhill as SNP loses key seats — Greater Govanhill

The evening begins

With voting closing at 10pm, the quiet arena, which was akin to an examination room with rows of tables and vote counters, sat poised ready to begin a long night’s work.

By 11:00pm, the first ballot boxes started to trickle in. The atmosphere was tense but orderly, as officials and volunteers moved purposefully, ensuring every vote was accounted for.

By 11:45pm, all ballot boxes had arrived, and the real work began. The room, filled with stacks of completed ballot papers from across Glasgow, was a hub of quiet, focused activity. Election agents paced around, tallying visible votes and relaying early indications to their respective party candidates and representatives. Despite the gravity of the event, the whole affair was surprisingly civilised, a testament to the professionalism of those involved. I was expecting a lot more tension, being in the room for such a monumental election.

Early impressions and party reactions

As the night progressed, the atmosphere remained hushed, punctuated only by murmurs and occasional bursts of conversation among party members. Labour and SNP representatives appeared particularly engrossed in the unfolding count, reflecting the uncertainty surrounding their performance in Scotland, even as a Labour landslide was predicted elsewhere in the UK.

The Greens however, had a more relaxed vibe. Niall Christie, the Glasgow South candidate, described the constituency as "a real hotbed of potential for us”. The Conservatives, facing dire projections, seemed resigned, and I failed to spot any blue rosettes with their emblem on it throughout the course of the night.

The turning point: seat announcements

The quiet vigilance of the count suddenly exploded into a lively spectacle as the first seat announcements began in the early hours of Friday morning. The arrival of the Scottish Labour leader, Anas Sarwar, sparked a rush of journalists as they surrounded him in hopes of capturing his reaction to the results.

I rushed over to see who had arrived as the swarm of journalists and photographers swelled. Nudging my way through the horde I saw he was all smiles as it seemed certain to be a Labour victory across Glasgow

Cheers erupted around the Labour party, which had now come together at the arrival of their party leader to form a massive group as the election agents confidently stopped tallying the votes, and early results confirmed Labour's strong performance, with the SNP being completely wiped out here in Glasgow.

This moment marked a significant shift in the evening's dynamics. The previously subdued atmosphere gave way to excitement and camaraderie as the hard work for the campaigners drew to an end.

Labour Party representatives and supporters, who had been cautiously optimistic, now openly celebrated, mingling with the press and sharing the exhilaration of the historic night. It was more a case of commiseration for the SNP, suffered a huge defeat after more than a decade of winning the popular vote.

The Green Party were not overjoyed but seemed happy with their result. However throughout the night the Green Party’s confidence was somewhat diminished by the news that Reform UK (who were also not obviously present) were doing well in other parts of Scotland and the rest of UK. The Lib Dems were reserved, talking amongst themselves. They didn’t win any seats in Glasgow but overall they won a record number of seats across the UK.

Reflections on the night

Reflecting on the evening, the Emirates Arena provided a fascinating microcosm of the national mood. The methodical counting process underscored the importance of each vote, while the varied reactions of party members highlighted the diverse political landscape.

For Labour, the night confirmed their resurgence after years of political turmoil and Tory dominance. For the SNP, it was a time of contemplation and strategic re-assessment. The Greens’ buoyancy indicated growing confidence in their grassroots support, while the Conservatives’ detachment hinted at an impending reckoning within their ranks. However, the night was also underscored by the Reform Party’s gains, after receiving millions of votes across Scotland and the rest of the UK, with party leader Nigel Farage winning his seat in Clacton.

For me, while it was a long night, it gave me the opportunity to speak to some of the candidates and their party members in person. Politics can often feel very false, but being in the room with the individuals who are supposed to represent you, the world of politics and those in it felt realer, more tangible, and accessible. There were certainly people in the room that seemed to care a great deal about the issues affecting the country and their constituents. While others seemed far more distant and disinterested.

End of the evening

Election night at the Emirates Arena was an unforgettable experience. It encapsulated the drama and tension of a democratic process in action. As the night drew to a close, the sense of witnessing a pivotal moment in UK political history was inescapable after seeing the final results laid out on the electoral map, which was all red in Glasgow. It was official, after all the polls showed a Labour landslide, they won. The experience left an indelible mark; a reminder of the power and importance of every vote cast.

But, despite that, I was also ready for bed. Unfortunately, all the excitement of the evening wasn’t enough to prevent me from crashing after eating my weight in sweets and drinking an obscene amount of coffee. But, I can now say I was there, learning from democracy in action.