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Will Riots In London Change Bookmakers Odds For Mayoral Election?

As Britain wakes to another torrent of headlines about the rioting in London, now the third night in a row and the worst as the broadcasters say in recent history, the analysis is already unfolding as to why these events are occuring in our "green and pleasant land". With David Cameron returning from his holiday this morning to attend an emergency meeting of COBRA, the political arrows will soon be showering down on the incumbent Coalition. Whilst there have been what have been called 'copycat disturbances' in Birmingham, Bristol and Leeds, the epicentre in London will have the capital and its incumbents reeling and with a mayoral election next year, every effort will be made to garner votes from the catastrophe. Bookmakers Paddy Power, at present still have Boris Johnson as 8/15 favourite to win, but Livingstone may well benefit from a tidal wave of public opinion.

Of course Johnson will be mortified if he is not re elected in 2012 when the Olympic movement comes to town, he has almost become the bumbling mascot for the event, but the obvious swell of public unease will undoubtedly be a cue for Ed Milliband and the labour party to highlight the failings of Conservative policy. Whilst Johnson's shambling demeanour has endeared him to a populace who became disenchanted with 'Red Ken,' his close associations with the Tories will not do him any favours in the current climate.

Ken Livingstone was overwhelmingly voted as the Labour party candidate for mayor, winning 68.6% of the vote as compared to Oona King's 31.4% and vowed that he would immediately lower the cost of public transport in the city by extending the congestion charge to the west. It is sure to be argued in the coming days and months that the troubles seen in Clapham and Ealing are as a result of the depth and breadth of the government's austerity measures to combat the national debt and that the Labour Party and by association a Labour Mayor of London would be more mindful of the pressures that these strategies are forcing on the population.

As in every disastarous situation there are always winners as well as losers, the black market economy of WW2 being a case in point, and whilst the Labour party will not overtly relish the chaos and tragedy that has befallen the capital it gives Milliband and his shadow cabinet an arsenal with which to shower those in power. London and Londoners will become front and central for some time in political debate, with endless claims and counterclaims from the Westminster dock and the Mayoral elections will inevitably receive more column inches than had been expected. Johnson will have to find a way of detatching himself from Cameron and particularly George Osbourne, which is not beyond his ability, he is reknown for his Maverick stance, but as the Olympic torch is lit next year, he may rue the day he ever joined The Bullingdon Club. Surely after this weekend Ken Livingstone's Odds will shorten!

London Mayor Odds

Odds plus a host of Novelty Betting Opportunities courtesy of Paddy Power

Boris Johnson

8/15

Ken Livingstone

11/8

Posted: Tuesday, 9th August 2011
Author: Suzi Flute
Tags: current affairs, london 2012, george osbourne, david cameron, paddypower,

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