Browsed by
Month: September 2005

Sunday press roundup, 4th September 2005

Sunday press roundup, 4th September 2005

Press pundits précised The main British political stories today centre, as usual, on the election of the next Conservative leader. The Sunday Telegraph reports that its poll of constituency chairmen showed a 44% vote against the proposed change to the party’s constitution which would give MPs the final say on the leadership. With the proposal requiring a two-thirds majority at the National Convention on 27th September, this would be enough to block it. The Sunday Times speculates that the compromise…

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Saturday markets update, 3rd September 2005

Saturday markets update, 3rd September 2005

New, moving and interesting markets this week The biggest story in British politics over the last few days has been the entry of Kenneth Clarke into the Conservative leadership election. Money in the betting markets has piled on the former Chancellor and pushed him into the second favourite position at 3.1/1, overtaking Shadow Education Secretary David Cameron (6.8/1) but continuing to trail the favourite, Shadow Home Secretary David Davis (0.92/1). All other contenders have slipped to 39/1 and longer. On…

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The Livingston by-election

The Livingston by-election

Labour should be strong enough in Cook’s old seat Recent reports have forecast that the by-election to fill the Livingston seat of the late Robin Cook will take place on 29th September. Betting is not available yet, but a few bookies normally run by-election markets once the date is formally set. The two main candidates (pictured to the right) will be Labour’s Jim Devine – previously Robin Cook’s election agent – and Angela Constance of the SNP, who fought the…

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London 2008: the runners

London 2008: the runners

Will it be Ken Livingstone’s turn again? I think the first comment I ever posted on this site concerned the London mayoral election last year. The winner was the hot favourite Ken Livingstone, but Mike Smithson was proved right in his prediction that Steve Norris would close the gap in the betting odds and polls as the campaign went on. Some bets on the next-but-one election – in 2012 – are already available under the umbrella of William Hill‘s Olympic-themed…

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