CLINGING ON Bookies slash odds on shock defeat for Sadiq Khan in London as Tories close gap
BOOKIES slashed their odds last night on a shock defeat for Sadiq Khan in London.
Senior Tories claimed the race for Mayor of London was far closer than originally thought and would be a major upset for the pollsters who had Labour heading for a landslide.
Mr Khan’s hated ULEZ expansion and 20mph zones were said to have “galvanised” voters in the suburbs, according to Tory strategists.
Meanwhile it was claimed a similar collapse in Muslim voter support for Labour seen in English cities could be repeated in east London.
Mr Khan’s team also insisted the battle for City Hall was tight - amid an increased turnout in the outer boroughs of the Capital and a slump in voting in the inner city.
The so-called London “donut” sees Labour’s support concentrated in the centre of London while the Tories keeping a grip on the outer-ring.In Bexley and Bromley turnout was up four points to 48.38 per cent.
While in Tower Hamlets it slumped four to 31.17.
And in limited data from council by-elections, Hillingdon in West London showed Labour down 8 per cent, while the Tories were unexpectedly 10 per cent up in one ward in Wandsworth.
Tory strategists last night believed Khan would achieve a third term running London, but the bookies odds tightened yesterday on a massive shock upset by their candidate Susan Hall.At the start of Friday, Mr Khan was 1/25, according to Betfair, while this morning he was down to 1/10.
Conservative rival Susan Hall was an outside rival at 19/1 - but this morning was 7/1.
The first hint of Labour panic came in an attack from Shadow Health Secretary Wes Streeting on Thursday.
He was slammed after claiming: “A win for Susan Hall and the Conservatives is a win for racists, white supremacists and Islamophobes the world over.”
Betfair spokesperson Sam Rosbottom said: "While Sadiq Khan remains the firm favourite to win the London Mayoral Election, Betfair Exchange Punters aren’t completely ruling Susan Hall out and she remains a contender in the market, suggesting there could be some doubts creeping in."
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