Blog: I’m sure it’s an age thing – there seem to be an increasing number of things that irritate me the older I get, writes Municipal Correspondent Dave Morris.

What irritated me last night and during the early hours of this morning was the amount of time given over by television commentators and various pundits to a 10pm exit poll.

Even before the first result had been announced there appeared to be certainty over the outcome of the election and the exit poll was analysed in minute detail.

It showed the Conservatives just short of a majority with 307 seats, Labour with 255, the Lib Dems with 59 and ‘others’ with 29.

It looks at this stage that the poll will turn out to be fairly accurate.

But my irritation was that no-one seemed prepared to say that it might be wrong.

True the exit polls had got it right during the previous three elections.

But in 1992 they got it wrong. Then it was projected there would be a closely-balanced hung parliament but in fact the Conservatives retained power with a majority of 21.

Another irritation has been the way – as in the last few elections – the way the campaigns are stage managed and are safe for the party leaders and big guns,with few opportunities for tricky questions to be asked of them.

It’s been clear too that they don’t like hecklers. Security quickly steps in to remove possible trouble makers or those who want to voice an opposing opinion.

There was a time when prominent politicians were not afraid to address meetings of hundreds of people of various political colours. They expected a rough ride and knew how to handle it.

Ah well I’ll now try to get back to enjoying “election night”  without being irritated.