SOUTHAMPTON is tonight set to be at the heart of one of the most dramatic election nights in British politics for generations.

The full glare of the national media is expected to be on the city’s Civic Centre tonight and the early hours of the morning as the results of Thursday’s European elections are announced.

The man everyone will be wanting to interview will be UKIP leader Nigel Farage – who is fighting to end to the UK’s membership of the European Union.

The maverick politician will be present at the count because he is a South East member of the European parliament (MEP).

Mr Farage will learn whether he will, as expected, be returned to the European parliament in Strasbourg – which is expected to be brimming with other nationalist parties after the election from across the continent.  

Fresh from his significant gains across England’s councils, Mr Farage is expected by many commentators to be celebrating massive gains across the UK, with new MEPs at the expense of the traditional parties.

The count will begin at 4pm.

Results are expected to start coming towards midnight and the early hours.

The Daily Echo's team will be there reporting what is expected to be a night of high political drama.