General Election: The runners in the race for Leicestershire and Rutland's seats
This General Election is set to be the most wagered political race ever seen in Britain.
With the explosion of online gambling, every constituency in the country now has odds drawn-up for which party will win it.
-
Bookmakers odds highlight just how varied the political make-up of Leicestershire is.
Keith Vaz is 200/1 on with Ladbrokes to be re-elected as Leicester East MP on May 6, meaning you would have to wager £200 to win just £1.
Meanwhile the Green candidate in Leicester South is priced at 150/1 – meaning you will win £150 for every pound you wager if Dave Dixey is triumphant.
Bookmaker Charles Needham, part-owner of Tremayne Racing, in Saffron Lane, said: "Betting on politics is something which has really increased in popularity over the years.
"People like having a flutter on long-shot joke candidates, such as the Monster Raving Loony party, or taking a bet on a close-run marginal race where they reckon a challenger can win the seat.
"The expenses row will really influence this race and will increase the number of people placing bets. After all, many MPs have got rich at the public's expense, so why not the other way round?"
Ladbrokes put Loughborough Tory candidate Nicky Morgan at 10/1 on – heavily favoured to win the seat. Labour's Andy Reed is at 5/1.
But Mr Needham says he is willing to be even more generous to the Conservatives' chances in the constituency.
"We'd offer 16/1 on for Nicky Morgan and 6/1 on Andy Reed. It's a marginal that the Conservatives will have dedicated lots of resources to winning."
He said North West Leicestershire Labour candidate Ross Willmott was a "fair price" at 5/2, while Tory Andrew Bridgen's odds of 4/1 on accurately reflected the Conservatives' national popularity.
Richard Royal, public affairs manager at Ladbrokes, said: "There's been a lot of interest in our Leicestershire betting markets, particularly Loughborough which is tight.
"We calculate the odds based on the notional majorities in each seat and how parties are performing nationally.
"But if someone puts a large amount of money on a candidate we adjust our odds accordingly. We assume that they know something we don't.
"Similarly we keep an eye on the news wires for any big scandals emerging. A big development in a constituency can really sway the odds."
The main betting markets are which party will come out of the election with the largest number of seats.
The Conservatives are favourites at 1/8, Labour are at 5/1 and Liberal Democrats are at 200/1.
But the odds of a Tory overall majority are much shorter, at 8/15, compared to Labour at 10/1.
See the latest list of candidates for Leicestershire and Rutland
12 Comments
View all
by Phil KIng, Kibworth, Leics
Sunday, April 11 2010, 8:27PM
“A day ago or so Lord Adonis, who is Gordon Brown's Transport Secretary said that the Lib Dems and Labour had a great deal in common... this leads me to the thought that if so then what is the point in voting for the Lib Dems , you may as well vote for the real thing that is the Labour Party.
The only way people of this country will get a change is to Vote Conservative as they are the only party which will can form a government.
To change our politics
To change our economy
To change our society”
by Darren, Braunstone
Friday, April 09 2010, 1:45PM
“Too be honest i think the only party that have shown any nouse with regards to getting our country out of it's economic mess is the Lib Dems! They have at least identifued that the way forward for economic growth is by supporting small & medium sized business's!
Here's a thought though, why not make income tax 40%, remove all of the stealth taxes & reduce VAT to something like 5%. Increase import duty and then British manufactures would become more competitive helping to provide growth which in turn would make our manufacturing more competitive for export!?”
by Avtar, Oadby
Thursday, April 08 2010, 4:49PM
“How is the LibDem party different? They are all part of the LibLabCon Party whose sole purpose is to turns in power whilst pretending they're opposed to each other. None of them would actually allow the electorate to vote on the budget for example as that would be too much like real democracy for their liking. The only way to teach them a lesson is to vote for Independents in massive numbers. Otherwise the only thing they'll learn from this debacle is that no matter how crooked, corrupt and deceitful they may be, they still get re-elected!”
by Daniel, Leicester
Thursday, April 08 2010, 4:47PM
“Freethinker1, Leicester - thanks! seems like the truth always gets removed from this site lately.”
by David, Great Easton, Rural Leics.
Thursday, April 08 2010, 4:45PM
“What will Willmott do when he gets beat in NW Leics?
I thought a better bet for him would have been Harborough, at least he could count on the Co-op support!!”
by Freethinker1, Leicester
Thursday, April 08 2010, 2:37PM
“Well said Daniel....
It spoke VOLUMES to me that Vaz's election leaflet had him on the front with two white people. This is the vote he has yet to win and will probably never win.
Message to Vaz's election marketeers - we are not stupid. You cannot slyly manipulate us with unrealistic images!!
He also mentioned the Peepul Centre in the leaflet as a good thing he has been involved with - HA! What a waste of time and money. Nobody goes there. It's just a gloried community centre riddled in debt that attracts nobody! Bulldoze it!”
by Kulgan, Crydee
Thursday, April 08 2010, 11:58AM
“I bet Bandwagon Vaz's accountant has a good word to say about him.”
by Freethinker1, Leicester
Thursday, April 08 2010, 10:52AM
“I've never met a human being who likes Keith Vaz!!! Everybody has a bad word to say about him. I had a VOTE VAZ leaflet through my door yesterday. I rolled it up and put it next to the toilet, to recycle!
Please don't vote for him...”
by Pete, Wigston, Leicestershire
Thursday, April 08 2010, 10:49AM
“It's time for a change, so the LibDems will hopefully remove the almost non-existent Con MP in Harborough. Then perhaps we will actually see an MP around the area. I don't know what my current MP looks like. Who is he? There again, since he's a Con, perhaps it doesn't really matter.”
by Kulgan, Crydee
Thursday, April 08 2010, 10:25AM
“A goldfish would have more honour than Bandwagon Vaz.”