General election 2015: Facebook conversations on ballot double after shock exit poll

The Conservatives look set to win if the poll is correct

Conversations about the general election on Facebook have surged (Getty Images)

Conversations about the general election have spiked on Facebook after a shock exit poll pointed to a Conservative victory.

In the two minutes after polling stations closed and the poll for BBC, ITN and Sky was published, activity on the social media website around the election doubled, Facebook told ITV News.

The exit poll of the 2015 General Election put the Conservatives ahead on 316 seats, with Labour on 239, the Liberal Democrats on 10, the SNP on 58 and Ukip on 2 as counting continues across the country.

After final polls showed the Labour and the Conservatives were neck and neck following weeks of campaigning, the results of the poll were highly unexpected.

If it rings true, the Conservatives and the Lib Dems would be able to form a second Coalition Government by a whisker - taking the two parties to the slimmest of majorities of 326 seats.