Could the Brexit party be heading for their first MP in Westminster? On Thursday 6th of June, keen attention will be paid to the Peterborough by-election. In the 2017 general election, Fiona Onasanya of the Labour party won in Peterborough with a majority of just 607 votes. Following this Miss Onasanya was sentenced to a jail term for perverting the course of justice when she lied about a speeding offence. After 19,000 of her constituents signed a recall petition, she was removed from her seat, hence Thursday’s by-election.
This by-election is being cited by many as a crucial test of the Brexit party following their convincing victory in the recent European elections. The mainstream political parties have been siphoning visibly considerable resources into this campaign. In the last week alone the former PM Gordon Brown, as well as leadership candidate Boris Johnson and leader of the opposition Jeremy Corbyn all campaigned in the constituency.
These visits undoubtedly show the previous Labour-Tory stranglehold on Peterborough is under serious threat. As of Tuesday morning, Sky Bet was offering odds of 1/10 on the Brexit party to win this by-election, as well as odds of 1000/1 for the Monster Raving Loony party. Over the weekend Mr Farage was on the campaign trail of the Brexit Party. It should not be forgotten that during the 2016 Brexit referendum Peterborough voted to leave with a staggering 60.9% vote share.
However, some have suggested that these betting markets are not necessarily being reflected on the ground, as well as speculating about Jeremy Corbyn’s leadership if the Labour party were to lose on Thursday. Dan Hodges wrote on Twitter that: “Speculation on what happens to Corbyn if he loses Peterborough. Reality is he’d be in a very bad place. Bookies currently have Brexit Party 1-10 on to win. But have to say, Labour, Tory and Brexit officials I’ve spoken to say that’s not reflected on the ground. Labour still in it.” Whilst Mr Hodges did not name is sources, this is certainly an interesting snippet whilst all other information suggests the Brexit party are romping towards victory.
Over the weekend some bookmakers such as sky Bets suspended bets being placed on the by-election, this was possibly down to them changing the odds.
Mr Farage has stated on many occasions that his Brexit party is not about left and right politics it is simply about delivering Brexit and honouring a democratic result. The undoubted strategy of the Brexit party on the doorstep will be to make this by-election a further poll on Brexit. If this strategy is successfully implemented, many feel it will be difficult to look past the prospect of the Brexit Party gaining its first member of Parliament on Thursday.
Current Affairs Correspondent | My name is Oliver Down I am 22, and a staunch brexiteer. I am a Bristolian lad who studied politics in Leicester. I believe in free speech and accurate journalism and I won’t be afraid to give you “the other side” of the story!
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