The odds: Tories to win majority
By Aled Thomas
The Conservatives are odd-on favourites to win the next election with a clear majority, say Britain’s bookies.
Ladbrokes, William Hill and Paddy Power are all offering very short odds on the Tories forming a majority in the next parliament.
And all three bookmakers have odds which suggest betters think a hung parliament is more likely than an outright Labour win
Spokesman for William Hill Graham Sharpe said: “The odds for a Tory win have lengthened a bit from a few months ago when they were as short as 1/3 to win, but they have also shortened over the last few days; there were a couple of polls at the weekend suggesting they had a ten point lead.”
Ladbrokes spokesman, Nick Weinberg, said: “The phoney war is finally over. Labour has been steadily chipping away at the Tories’ favouritism in recent months. But the Conservatives appear to have got a second wind, this week.
“For the first time since 1992, the battle for Number Ten represents a genuine contest rather than a forgone conclusion.”
And with this election looking like the tightest since 1997, bookies expect millions to be put on the result.
Darren Haines spokesman for Paddy Power, said: “Bookies are predicting an increased electoral turnout and the biggest ever election for political betting with more than £20 million being staked on more than 650 election markets.”
Odds
William Hill
8/13 Conservative win
8/1 Labour win
300/1 Liberal Democrat win
6/4 Hung parliament
Ladbrokes
8/15 Conservative Overall Majority
10/1 Labour Overall Majority
250/1 Liberal Democrat Overall Majority
15/8 No Overall Majority
Paddy Power
8/15 Conservative majority
13/8 Hung parliament
9/1 Labour majority
200/1 Liberal Democrat majority
For the latest 
