Eastleigh by-election: bookies divided whether Tories or LibDems will win  

Following ex-LibDem Energy Secretary Chris Huhne’s resignation as MP for Eastleigh, the parties are in fierce contention to get their candidate in place to succeed him in the by-election.

Huhne has officially been appointed “Stewart and Bailiff of the Three Hundreds of Chiltern”, Parliament talk for resignation.

So what about the race to succeed him as Eastleigh MP?

Treasury: “the Chancellor has appointed Christopher Murray Paul Huhne to be Steward and Bailiff of the Three Hundreds of Chiltern…”

— Chris Mason (@ChrisMasonBBC) February 5, 2013

 As ever with elections, it’s always worth following the money. However in this case, the bookies are a bit muddled.

Odds comparison site Oddschecker.comindicates that the bookmakers are divided on whether the Tories or the LibDems will win Eastleigh.

William Hill make the Liberal Democrats 10/11 favourites with the Conservatives available at 13/10. However Bet365 price the Tories as evens front-runners with the Lib Dems at 5/4.

UKIP are at the best price to win with odds as short as 13/2 from some bookmakers, even though party leader Nigel Farage has said he won’t be standing.

Huhne has also been given odds of 1/8 to be handed a prison sentence and 1/3 “never to speak to his son again following the breakdown in their relationship after the speeding points scandal”.