A night to remember (wasn't that the name of the first Titanic movie?) View from inside the count

THE first indication something seismic was on the horizon was the bellows, hoorays and whoops coming from the Vote Leave bunker.
Ballot boxes arrive for countingBallot boxes arrive for counting
Ballot boxes arrive for counting

They had been assigned committee room number one for the evening, nestled deep within ornate Manchester Town Hall, and activists with badges scurried back and forth from the TV screen looking positively depressed between the hours of 10pm and midnight.

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David Cameron announces his resignation outside 10 Downing StreetDavid Cameron announces his resignation outside 10 Downing Street
David Cameron announces his resignation outside 10 Downing Street

The YouGov poll set the media off in the wrong direction and at one point I was sitting having a cosy chat with shadow energy secretary Lisa Nandy, who was feeling pretty confident Remain had clinched it.

But then the whoops got a bit louder, and soon they were drifting along the corridor into the media suite arriving thick and fast. Sunderland, South Tyneside, Redcar, Sheffield...the roll calls of Brexit soon became impossible to ignore.

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As live news showed a map of Great Britain turning into a sea of blue, it was clear this was going to be more than just a tight race.

David Cameron speaks outside Downing St watched by wife SamanthaDavid Cameron speaks outside Downing St watched by wife Samantha
David Cameron speaks outside Downing St watched by wife Samantha

Andy Burnham, Labour’s shadow cabinet leader turned up in the small hours in part to ensure people remember his face for the Greater Manchester mayoral election.

But also because he seemed cautiously confident things would go the way of Remain. Another red herring.

Fast-forward an hour, and several jelly babies and packets of nuts later, and Vote Leave’s chief executive Matthew Elliott bounded out of committee room one and down the tiled corridor, with the look of someone on Christmas Day.

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This Leeds-born entrepreneur is tall, with a kind face and softly spoken, and he was impossible to miss as he walked with pride around the building’s Great Hall.

David Cameron announces his resignation outside 10 Downing StreetDavid Cameron announces his resignation outside 10 Downing Street
David Cameron announces his resignation outside 10 Downing Street

When Birmingham declared they were voting Leave it was effectively game over for Remain and Matthew Elliott’s campaign had made something that seemed quite improbable come true.

While the focus shifted back to London at around 4am there were trains to catch, and Brexit’s mastermind was off back to the capital with a spring in his step.

And ever the gent, he was nice enough to thank the Yorkshire Post’s readers for their support on his way out.