Boris says he’ll quit as an MP if he beats Ken

The Tory candidate for London Mayor has said this afternoon that if elected he will resign as an MP thus creating a by election at his seat in Henley in Oxfordshire.

At the 2005 general election Boris held the seat with a 53.5% vote share. The Lib Dems were in second place on 26% with Labour at 15%.

On the face of it the seat looks like a safe hold for the Tories – but you can never underestimate the Lib Dems in parliamentary by elections and Henley is quite close to a number of seats held by the party where there are lots of activists. Oxford is only just up the road.

But Boris has to win in London first on MayDay. What polls there have been have had him in second place – but not far behind.

In the London mayoral betting Ken is on 0.68/1 with Boris at 1.54/1.

Could the Tories be vulnerable in a by election in Henley?