The odds: Cameron to win first debate
By Richard Chidwick
David Cameron is favoured by bookies to win the first leaders’ debate.
Paddy Power is offering 5/6 that the Conservative leader come out on top on Thursday’s ITV broadcast as determined by an ICM opinion poll.
Spokesman Darren Haines said: “Whilst David Cameron is the favourite for his skills on stage, as this is the first ever TV debate we are as much in the dark as the viewers as to what to expect. There could be wild fluctuation in the in-play betting.
“Nick Clegg, for example, is the current outsider but has nothing to lose so his surprise factor may be translated by some people into thinking he was the best performer on the night.”
William Hill also has Cameron as favourite to win at evens, with the other leaders at 9/4.
Spokesman Graham Sharpe: “This is unknown territory for all three leaders and the viewing public, and any one of them could buckle under the pressure, but we are confident that David Cameron is entitled to start as a warm favourite to win the opening debate.”
Caroline Lucas, Green party leader has been installed as favourite by Powers and Ladbrokes to take her party’s first ever seat in Brighton Pavilion. Powers is offering 4/7 and Ladbrokes offer 6/5.
Ladbrokes is also offering 8/14 on the Greens taking at least one seat nationally.
William Hill is offering 5/4 on the Scottish national party gaining an overall majority, but it makes Labour huge favourites at 1/50 to emerge as the largest party in Scotland.
Odds
Ladbrokes
8/15 Conservative overall majority
11/1 Labour overall majority
250/1 Lib Dem overall majority 251/1
15/8 Hung parliament
Paddy Power
5/6 Cameron to ‘win’ first TV debate
7/4 Brown to ‘win’ first TV debate
5/2 Clegg to ‘win’ first TV debate
8/15 Conservative majority
13/8 Hung Parliament
11/1 Labour majority
200/1 Liberal Democrats majority
4/7 Green Party to win the Brighton Pavilion seat
William Hill
4/7 Conservative overall majority
8/1 Labour majority
300/1 Lib Dem majority
13/8 Hung parliament
Evens Cameron to win first debate
9/4 Brown or Clegg to win debate
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