Five election moments you may have missed

Key developments are emerging from the global stage. Five election moments you may have missed16 minutes ago Share Save Add as preferred on GoogleJennifer McKiernanPolitical reporter BBCIndependent candidate Captain Beany attended the count in his customary orange hueThe 2026 elections for English councils, the Senedd in Wales and the Scottish Parliament have seen thousands of candidates competing for seats, and millions of votes cast. Emotions have run high, there has been jubilation and hugs from winners, some tears from losing candidates, and even a few angry heckles. But there have also been some moments of humanity and quirkiness through the long election counts overnight on Thursday and on Friday that you may have missed.

Former Big Brother star electedAlex SibleyNew Reform councillors in Havering, David Johnson (L) and Alex Sibley (R) Former Big Brother heartthrob Alex Sibley shot to fame in the 2002 series, appearing with housemates Jade Goody and Alison Hammond. He became known for his love of hygiene, which won him work promoting bleach. More than 20 years later, he stepped back into the limelight alongside fellow Reform candidate, David Johnson, with a social media post captioned: "It's Official.

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"With a combined age of 126 years old and no degree from Oxford or Cambridge in Politics, we are Emerson Park candidates for Havering and Reform UK. "Both candidates won their seats from Havering Residents Association in the early hours of Friday morning, and the 47-year-old dad raised a laugh from exhausted candidates by telling them he had to get off to do the school run. Two by-elections in Scotland as MPs move to HolyroodStephen Flynn, seen on the right, won a seat at HolyroodNew rules mean two MPs who stood and won seats in the Scottish Parliament will need to stand down from Westminster.

Under the rules, it's not permitted to be an MP and an MSP. Now SNP Westminster leader Stephen Flynn has won a seat in the Scottish Parliament as MSP for Aberdeen Deeside and North Kincardine, he has 49 days to step down from Westminster and allow a by-election in his seat of Aberdeen South. Flynn, who has been widely tipped as a future SNP leader, said he would be a champion for North Sea oil and gas workers, those struggling with the cost of living and "young people searching for hope and aspiration".

Another Stephen, this time Stephen Gethins, will also need to step down as an MP now he has won the Dundee City East seat at Holyrood. Gethins had been elected as the MP for Arbroath and Broughty Ferry in 2024 and shortly afterwards announced he would seek a dual mandate. That means another by-election for his Westminster seat.

Lib Dem candidate collapses and is treated by Reform candidateThere was some drama in the early hours of Friday morning at the Merton count in London, when a Liberal Democrat candidate wearing a bright yellow tie collapsed.

The development has drawn wide international attention, with diplomatic circles watching closely.