Bookies Slash Odds On Lib Dem Victory

4.19.42pm UTC (GMT +0000) Thu 11th Sep 2003

The odds on a Liberal Democrat victory in the Brent East by-election today narrowed from 4-1 to 11-8 as the poling date of 18th September closes in.

William Hill Bookmakers have now shortened its odds on a Lib Dem victory while the Conservatives odds have widened from 12-1 to 16-1. The Labour odds are at 8-11 on.

The figures demonstrate the continuing closure of the gap between Labour and the Liberal Democrats as the by-election a week tomorrow draws closer.

The Liberal Democrats have been increasingly seen to be hotting up the pace:

• Rt Hon Charles Kennedy MP will have made five visits to Brent East before polling day

• Over 1,000 activists are expected to arrive into Brent East over the weekend to canvass and deliver right across the constituency

• Over 750,000 leaflets have already been delivered in the constituency by the Liberal Democrats. By the end of the campaign, over 1million will have been delivered to households

• 27 different Lib Dem MPs have come to campaign in Brent East for Sarah Teather in the last week alone

Sarah Teather said, "These figures show that the gap between Labour and the Liberal Democrats is drawing ever narrower. Iain Duncan-Smith and his Conservative Party are limping along as also rans in this two horse race. "

"As the campaign reaches its fever pitch finale, it is clear that of trust in both New Labour and the Conservatives has sunk to new levels. The people of Brent are now turning more and more to the Liberal Democrats as the only party that will provide effective opposition to Tony Blair and New Labour."