Tory poll odds cut

Jan 9 2009 by Adrian Pearson, The Journal

BOOKIES have cut the odds of the Conservatives taking a parliamentary seat in Sunderland following the job losses.

Ladbrokes has offered new odds as voters begin to wonder why the Government has not acted to bail out the car industry.

The Conservatives are in at 3/1, from 4/1, to win Sunderland Central at the next general election, according to Ladbrokes.

Lee Martin, head of the Tory group of councillors, will challenge Labour’s Julie Elliott, a political officer for the GMB union, for the new seat following Sunderland South MP Chris Mullin’s decision to stand down at the next election.

Labour has eased to 2/9, from 1/8, to retain the seat after car giants Nissan announced 1,200 job loses at the city’s plant.