Odds of Reform UK pulling off Special election victory slashed

UK Daily Express ^ | Feb 8 | By DAVID MADDOX

[RandFan]

Speculation is mounting that Reform UK could cause "a political earthquake" in next week's Wellingborough by-election after bookmakers suddenly slashed the odds of the party's candidate Ben Habib.

Mr Habib entered the race at a distant third favourite of 66/1 last month but as the voting date on February 15 has approached his campaign has appeared to have gained momentum.

After declaring that the by-election is "a referendum on Rishi Sunak's government", Mr Habib has suddenly found himself installed as the clear second favourite at just 8/1, a dramatic fall in his odds as money piled on for him to win.

Meanwhile, the Conservative candidate Helen Harrison, partner of the former MP Peter Bone, has seen her odds drift out from single figures to 19/1 amid concerns that the traditional Tory vote has gone on strike or switched to Reform

Mr Habib told Express.co.uk: "The reason the odds have come in so dramatically is that people in Wellingborough have realised that the only party that stands a chance of reversing the tide of destruction delivered by the Tories and continued by the Labour Party is Reform UK.

"Both the Tories and Labour believe in open borders, cheap imported Labour and undercutting of the British workforce."

He added: "Inevitably we heading for economic and cultural extinction if we don't vote out the Tories and Labour. We need a complete renewal for British values and the British people."

He accused the main parties of "bankrupting Britain" and said people in Wellingborough had understood the message that "Reform is the only option if you want to save this country and care about its future and your children's future".

[RandFan]

Any of that sound familiar ???

Reform was founded by Nigel Farage. Wish them well on the 15th

[Mr Radical]

"Both the Tories and Labour believe in open borders, cheap imported Labour and undercutting of the British workforce... Inevitably we [are] heading for economic and cultural extinction if we don't vote out the Tories and Labour. We need a complete renewal for British values and the British people."

A touch ironic coming from Mr Habib!
(Nevertheless he'd get my vote.)
The out-going MP, Peter Bone, was a Brexiteer, but I don't know anything more about his track-record.
I suspect the Daily Express is trying to talk up Reform's chances, it's possible the main beneficiary of this by-election will be the Labour Party.

[Mr Radical]

I'll add: Checking up further on Mr Habib, he is clearly a very intelligent and a clear and right-thinking man.
One example: https://www.msn.com/en-gb/money/other/ben-habib-the-dup-should-have-cited-the-pressure-it-faced-to-return-to-stormont-instead-of-hailing-the-deal/ar-BB1hXcYY
Definitely worth voting for!