Swansea West seat is not yet safe bet for any candidate
A LEADING bookmaker has opened the betting on a hotly contested parliamentary seat.
And, while betting has only just opened, if Ladbrokes are right the next MP for Swansea West will be either Lib Dem Peter May or Labour's Geraint Davies.
Yesterday morning the Lib Dem candidate was leading with odds of 6-5, but by lunchtime the pair were both at 10-11.
Tory candidate Rene Kinzett was listed at 10-1, while Plaid's candidate Harri Roberts was the outsider at 100-1.
The seat, from which long- standing MP Alan Williams is stepping down, promises to be a closely fought one.
Councillor May, who represents Uplands ward on Swansea Council, said: "While we are flattered that a national bookmaker has made the Lib Dems favourites for Swansea West, ultimately it is the electors that will decide the result.
"All I can do as a candidate is work hard on the people's behalf.
"Whatever the result, I want Swansea West residents to have an MP that is available for them and one they can be proud of."
However, despite the fact that the odds show Councillor May and former Croydon MP Mr Davies as joint favourites, the Labour candidate said he did not believe the Lib Dems would be the biggest challenge in what has traditionally been a safe Labour seat.
He said: "Ladbrokes just measures current betting. The real threat is the Tories. In the June Euro election Labour won in Swansea West, despite a low turnout, and the Tories caught up with the Lib Dems.
"I believe Swansea West voters will return home to Labour because twice as many people vote in general elections as in local elections, and the key question is which party is best able to run the economy and protect jobs, education and health in Swansea."
Councillor Kinzett agreed that the electorate, as well as the betting public, would be choosing between Labour and the Conservatives.
He said: "Betting is a mug's game anyway.
"The only result that counts is when the election is held.
"There's only two parties that can win the General Election, and they are the Conservatives and Labour. That is the choice the public has to make."
5 Comments
by Nye_Zwerk, Flemland
Saturday, September 05 2009, 10:42AM
“a herbert.
This is kitchen sink politics.
Baths come later and may be preceded by some having early showers.”
by a herbert, gorseinon
Saturday, September 05 2009, 12:23AM
“There as been a lot of news in the evenig post about fly tipping , also the cost it is costing the council, i took a bath to the council yard in llansamlet to dispose of a bath ,i was charged £10 to dispose of it ,if items like this was free ,to tip, there would be less fly tipping , the council needs to rethink of charging people to dispose of household waste .they are creating this problem their selves.”
by Mayals Girl, Swansea
Friday, September 04 2009, 9:30PM
“Who is the Tory based in London?”
by Wayne Morris, Sandfields, Port Talbot
Friday, September 04 2009, 7:38PM
“As long as it's not one of the main parties that win because they are all useless.”
by BillyBling, Wales
Friday, September 04 2009, 5:39PM
“I like a flutter now and again, so the Tory candidate has just called me a mug. He won't be getting my vote!”