Five moments that have defined the UK election campaign

UK citizens were left confounded by the results of the 2015 General Election, when the Conservatives under David Cameron won a decisive victory despite every poll indicating that there would be no overall majority in the House of Commons. Now, as people from across Britain and Northern Ireland head back to the voting booths, even the pollsters aren't trying to call this one.

Here's some of the more dramatic twists of the last few months:

"Strong and Stable" vs. "Coalition of Chaos"

It might not be as catchy as "Make America Great Again", but Theresa May has clearly learnt something from her American counterpart in terms of ignoring detail and repeating a simple, memorable maxim over and over again.

The big Tory push during their campaign has been the idea that only a Conservative majority can take a "strong and stable" hand during the Brexit negotiations that will immediately follow the election.

The implication is that Labour - who currently have 100+ seats less than the Tories - can never hope to win a clear majority and will have to rely on the likes of the Liberal Democrats, the SNP and, possibly, a number of small parties in order to make a coalition. The "chaos" is the fact that such a coalition would like lead to calls a second Scottish independence referendum, different parties wanting their say, and a weakened hand for the UK in Brexit negotiations.

It's a strategy that's largely built on fear, but may appeal to undecided voters.

The collapse of UKIP

When Paul Nuttall succeeded the pint-swilling Nigel Farage as leader of UKIP last year, his appointment was largely ignored. If you had to Google him to see who he was, you're not alone. Not only did he not have the odious charisma of the previous leader, but the apparent mood in the UK was that, post-Brexit, the party had served its purpose. Political commentators have pointed out that the Conservatives will likely absorb most of the UKIP vote, seeing as Theresa May's party are now shouting the loudest about how they're the only party to effectively carry out Brexit negotiations. Whether this can give her an outright majority is yet to be seen.

Labour's Build In Momentum

The early stages of the campaign were characterised by severe problems for Labour with retaining, or regaining, their core voting base. Many long-term Labour supporters indicated their scepticism with Jeremy Corbyn, their dissatisfaction with the party's inability to deliver a Remain vote, and the incoherence within the Parliamentary Labour Party itself. Early polls (untrustworthy as they are), put the Labour vote at nearly half that of the Tories.

But momentum started to build for Corbyn following a number of huge public rallies, the unveiling of the party's costed, comprehensive manifesto, and the subsequent release of a Tory manifesto that was so strident in its cuts that it made even the party faithful baulk.

Corbyn has always had vehement support from the far-left and he appeals strongly to under-25s, but the election will be about whether he can hold onto the traditional, centre-left Labour voters and retain seats in marginal areas like North-East England and Yorkshire.

Terror Attacks in Manchester and London

All parties were quick to stop their campaigning after the twin terrorist attacks at the end of May.start of June and neither of the main parties indicated that they would use it as a political football.

However, public opinion ran away with things (as it tends to do). A video leaked from 2015 which showed a Manchester MET police officer warning the then-Home Secretary Theresa May that her budget cuts would hinder the security of city.

Labour were quick to jump on the offensive, saying that Theresa May's cuts where directly affecting national security and even, at one point, calling for her resignation. The Conservatives responded by bringing up Jeremy Corbyn's association with Hamas and with Sinn Fein throughout the 1980s, arguing that he had no call's the lecture on terrorism when he was friends with terrorist sympathisers. Mudslinging in all directions.

Camera Shyness, Awkward Interviews and Downright Blunders

Watching and listening to any of the debates or interviews throughout this election, you get the feeling that both main party leaders and their ministerial teams might've fared better by saying nothing at all...

There's too many laughable moments to point to in this campaign, but some of the highlights included:

Diane Abbot's car-crash interview with LBC

The UK Secretary for Defence Michael Fallon getting grilled by Channel 4 about terrorism and vehemently disagreeing with a quoted response to the London terror attacks...until he learns that it was said by his ministerial colleague Boris Johnson

And finally, there's this. Theresa May avoided live Leaders' Debates like the plague throughout the campaign. Now we know why. When asked about the "naughtiest thing she's ever done, a cringing Theresa May - who has overseen spending cuts to policing and health, and has overseen arms deals with Saudi Arabia - said: