Tonight’s real race will be “the scrap for second place”, says Epsom’s Liberal Democrat candidate.

As votes continue to be counted at Epsom Downs Racecourse, Stephen Gee, 55, said – like a number of his fellow candidates – that Conservative Chris Grayling will be re-elected in Epsom and Ewell.

“I know what will happen here: Chris Grayling will win.

"Then there’s the scrap for second place.

"I hope it’s us.”

He said he believes Mr Grayling’s majority will be reduced due to a rise in the UKIP vote even though he said he had just heard that the party’s leader Nigel Farage will not win in South Thanet.

Mr Gee said his party do not believe the exit poll predicting just 10 Liberal Democrat MPs will get elected and said the number is actually closer to 30.

Taking his own tally of votes while watching counters sift through marked ballot papers for Epsom’s borough elections, he said: “Danny Alexander may fall to the swathes of SNP voters in Scotland, but I think Nick Clegg will hold his seat.”