Two former NSW premiers Mike Baird and Kristina Keneally in Manly on election day

LIVE UPDATES: James Griffin declares victory in Manly. Follow live updates on the Manly Daily as the results come in.

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James Griffin said he will deliver on his promises for Manly — right after he’s spent a bit of time with his three-month-old son Ted.

His team declared victory around 8.30pm with Mr Griffin building an unassailable lead.

He gathered with his supporters in the downstairs function room of Manly Bowling Club to watch the results come in.

“It is the end of a long few weeks,” he said over a well-earned schooner. “This election has really taken a lot out of me in terms of time with Ted, so I’m looking forward to spending a bit of time with him. Then it’s back to work.”

James Griffin declares in Manly.

He said top of his agenda was the proposed east to west rapid bus service which will run between Dee Why and Chatswood.

Among his other priorities are enabling disability access at Manly Wharf and seeing through the redevelopment Curl Curl North Public School.

He also said the his re-election showed that the majority of people are in favour of the Beaches Link tunnel — which the state Liberal Party is promising to deliver.

“Tonight in many respects was a referendum on the tunnel,” he said, “There are obviously people out there who have concerns about it. But the response today was that people support it.”

Mr Griffin was elected Manly MP after former Premier Mike Baird stepped down in 2017.

“I had only two years to demonstrate to people that I was prepared to give everything I’ve got to our community,” he said.

“I have delivered what I said I would and I’m really proud of that.

“Tonight is a really humbling result.”

At the time of writing around half the votes had been counted in Manly.

Mr Griffin has 53.25 per cent with Kristyn Glanville, The Greens, second on 19.46 per cent.

Labor’s Natasha Phillips-Mason is third with 17.56 per cent.

Manly

EARLIER

Two former NSW premiers were out early in Manly on election day supporting their local state party candidates.

Mike Baird was at Manly Village Public School alongside Liberal MP James Griffin and was planning to get to at least four other booths in the electorate.

Manly MP James Griffin with former NSW premier Mike Baird. Picture: Julie Cross.

Kristina Keneally was also at the same polling booth — which will see an expected 4000 voters today — to back Labor’s Natasha Phillips-Mason.

While, Mr Baird commenting on whether the Liberals and NSW Premier Gladys Berejiklian would win, he predicted it would be tight race with Labor.

Former NSW Premier Kristina Keneally with Manly Labor candidate Kristina Keneally. Picture: Julie Cross

“I am optimistic Gladys will be returned,” Mr Baird said.

“It would be quite a historic day to win a third term in Government.

“It has been increasingly difficult to do so and it would be the first time since the 1970s.

“If Gladys won she would also be the first female premier to be elected in this state.”

Manly Liberal MP James Griffin with wife Elissa and son Ted, three months, outside Manly Village Public School polling booth. Picture: Julie Cross.

He said she had done all the hard work so his only advice for Ms Berejiklian today was to enjoy it.

MP James Griffin, who wants to deliver express bus services between Dee Why and Chatswood and deliver the Beaches Link tunnel, was at Manly Village Public, supported by wife Elissa, and baby son Ted, three months.

He said he was feeling positive about the outcome.

“We’re getting a lot of support from the voters today,” he said.

Natasha Phillips-Mason, Labor candidate canvassing outside Manly Village Public School on election day. Picture: Julie Cross

Meanwhile, Ms Keneally who was there with Labor candidate Ms Phillips-Mason said the local issues in Manly were around the new Northern Beaches Hospital.

Ms Phillips-Mason said she wanted a referendum on the public private partnership run hospital in Frenchs Forest which opened in October.

Pupils from Manly Village Public School manning the barbecue and cake stall today. Picture: Julie Cross

“It’s not putting people first, it’s not working,” she said.

Other issues included scrapping the tunnel and getting cars off the road, as well as finding out more details on what would happen to the Manly Hospital site.

Party supporters on all sides had been working late in the night and early this morning to make sure their posters were prominent on the railings around the school.

Skye Smale, pupil at Manly Village Public School, helping to man the cake stall and barbecue, with her alternative choice of candidate. Picture: Julie Cross

Already by 10am there was a long line of voters.

But aside from the politics the important issues of the day was whether to go for the sausage sizzle or the cake stall, or both.

Pupil Skye Smale, helping out on the food stalls, had made her own poster suggesting people vote for her.

Wrong election: One voter out early at North Steyne, Manly, has a message for Federal MP Tony Abbott. Picture: Julie Cross

Profits from sales were due to go to Year 6 funds.

Meanwhile, those on the barbecue at Queenscliff Surf Lifesaving Club were also optimistic on a good turn out.