Christopher Furlong
With the historic Conservative gain of Hartlepool fresh in the memory, another by-election takes centre stage this week. The betting signals that another disaster looms Labour. From opening around 60 per cent, the Conservatives are now rated 80 per cent likely to gain the Batley and Spen constituency for the first time since 1992, at odds of 1.25.
Journalists couldn’t have hand-picked a more interesting constituency. Polls are close enough for uncertainty and the result will feed the wider narrative regarding the demise of Labour’s Red Wall. The Tories being hit by a late scandal could provide a late unknown. Then there are the specifics of Batley and Spen, the candidates and a predictably nasty campaign.