What the bookmakers think

Although Charles Kennedy believes his party could inflict another humiliating by-election defeat on the government in the Hartlepool by-election, William Hill aren’t quite so positive about the Liberal Democrats chances.

As recently as a few weeks ago, Paddy Power were offering just 5/4 that the Liberal party would win the Hartlepool by-election. Following a period in which the odds layers suspended the market,

William Hill have reopened the betting but are now making the Liberal party a 7/4 chance. Barrister Jody Dunn will be in charge of their campaign

Labour (2/5) is defending a 15,000 majority in the seat made vacant by the appointment of Peter Mandelson as Britain's European Commissioner.

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