Ladbrokes Predict LibDem Hold for Bristol West

Ladbrokes, Britain's largest bookmaker, is predicting a LibDem victory

for Bristol West in this summer's general election, a result which would

see current MP Stephen Williams returned to Parliament for a second

term.

Ladbrokes have published odds of 1/4 (at the time of

writing) in favour of a LibDem victory in the poll, widely predicted for

May 6th. A Labour victory in Bristol West is quoted at 4-1 and a

Conservative win at 10-1. The Green Party has a 100-1 chance of victory,

according to Ladbrokes.

By the time of this year's general

election, and following changes to the constituency by the electoral

Boundary Commission, Bristol West will contain the wards of Redland,

Cotham, Clifton and Clifton East, Bishopston, Ashley, Easton, Lawrence

Hill and Cabot. Despite the loss of Henleaze, Stoke Bishop and Westbury

on Trym (changes which might be considered beneficial to Labour) the bookies are still predicting that the Labour Party will fail to

overturn the LibDem majority - which was 5,000 at the 2005 election in

the "old" Bristol West constituency.

Bristol West was a

Conservative stronghold for over 100 years before being won by Labour's

Valerie Davey in the landslide 1997 general election. The LibDem victory

in 2005 represented a swing to them of 8% and was believed to have been

influenced by the votes of the large student population in Redland and

Cotham, many of whom were opposed to the Labour Party's policy of top up

fees.

Nationally, Ladbrokes are offering odds of 7/4 for there

being no overall majority in the House of Commons following this year's

general election.