So here we are, after seven weeks of frantic campaigning, numerous polling and extensive media coverage, the 2017 general election is finally upon us.
After going to the polls in 2015, the Conservative Party, at that stage led by David Cameron, returned triumphant with a parliamentary majority, albeit small to rid the nation of coalition and allow the Bullingdon boy to solely take the reins in Downing Street. However, following Britain's decision in 2016 to leave the European Union, Cameron exited stage right and Theresa May took over the lease at Number 10.
Despite reiterating her stance that she would abide by Parliament's fixed term constitutional convention and would not call a general election until 2020, May in a shock reversal decided during a country walk in Wales that she would shake up British politics and attempt to procure a commanding majority to initiate the Brexit proceedings by holding another general election in June.
We've now reached June 8 and despite Labour cutting the gap between them and the Tories, both in the polls and in the betting markets, our man Danny Archer thinks the 'girls and boys in blue' will be the ones celebrating this time tomorrow.
Despite May not taking part in leadership debates, following the recent terrorist attacks, you have to admit that she has come over in a prime-ministerial manner and I expect them to maintain their majority. I've already advised the Tories to win more than 345.5 seats but I also think the party to win over 365.5 seats with Coral at 5/6 looks cracking value.
The Tories currently have 331 seats and if they can take a few seats in the North East and Midlands, whilst maintaining their seats in South London such as Kingston and Twickenham, then that number looks possible. That also makes Conservatives to win 350-399 seats at 8/13 with Sky Bet also pretty decent value in my opinion.
As for Labour, despite the hype surrounding Corbyn in recent days, many of the right-wing newspapers have attacked the Corbyn bandwagon powerfully in recent days, whilst the controversy surrounding Diane Abbott and the leader's perceived softness on terrorism has certainly been a further issue.
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With that in mind, despite the polls suggesting otherwise, Labour to win under 203.5 seats at 5/6 with Sky Bet looks decent value as does Labour to win fewer than 200 seats at 5/4 with Sky Bet. I think there's been an awful lot of hype by the Corbynista's for their man and whilst there is no denying that he has been pretty sound on the campaign trail, more young people are possibly going to vote and potential Labourite's supporting UKIP have also dissipated, I'm still struggling to see the party causing a seismic problem to May and the Tories which also makes Labour to win 30-35% of the vote share quite interesting at 13/8 with Coral.
However, Labour to win Warrington North and Ashfield constituencies at 4/5 is one bet I do fancy as Labour hold both seats and might be able to just hold on to them. I do expect Corbyn to lose the election and think his position would be untenable. With that in mind, Yvette Cooper at 2/1 with Sky Bet to be the next Labour leader looks worth a bet. Cooper, the wife of Ed Balls, has been very well backed by some shrewd judges in recent times to take over the mantle from Corbyn and the rumours are strong that she has the support of plenty of MPs.
Let's be honest, what a fall from grace the 2015 election was for the Liberal Democrats. It was yellow peril for Clegg and co with cabinet ministers including Ed Davey and Vince Cable losing their seats to a Tory insurgency. Having procured 57 seats in the 2010 general election off the back of promises by Clegg including that he would abolish tuition fees if his party were elected into government, voters flocked to support the party.
However, once entering a coalition with Cameron's Conservatives, promises were not kept and the party suffered badly at the 2015 election, returning a paltry eight seats, a loss of 49 seats. However, things have looked slightly brighter for the party in recent times as they gained their ninth seat last year after ex-Tory MP Zac Goldsmith lost his seat in the Richmond Park by-election to Lib Dem Sarah Olney. On the face of things, that was a phenomenal effort as Olney overturned Goldsmith's 23,015 vote majority.
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Under new leader Tim Farron, it's fair to say that the party can seek to represent the 48% Bremainers given May and Jeremy Corbyn's unflinching support of the Brexit process. Even still, I've not been over enamoured with the success of the Lib Dems on the campaign trail and I think they look capable of possibly only regaining one or two seats. They currently have nine MPs in Westminster and I think the Liberal Democrats to have under 11.5 seats at 8/11 with Sky Bet and the Lib Dems to win between 10-19 seats with Sky Bet at 4/6 are cracking punts.
As for the other parties, I managed to snare UKIP to fail to win a single seat at a generous 3/5 with Paddy Power in April and that looks good business as the party are now 1/10 to not win a seat, the bubble looks to have burst. Caroline Lucas should maintain her seats in Brighton for the Greens but I'll be surprised if they are able to procure a further seat in Parliament.
However, my big NAP of the day is turnout to be between 60 to 65% at 6/4 with Coral. Whilst, there are rumours that turnout could increase on the 66% in 2015, I think apathy could still be a major problem.
Whatever the verdict at on the morning of June 9, Britain's political system will have been shook to its foundations with in my opinion, Theresa May and the Conservative Party set to be in dreamland. May has gambled on the biggest decision of her political life; I think she's done the right thing.
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Words By: Danny Archer
Selections
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(Advised on a scale of 1-5 points - 1 means quietly fancied, 5 means strongly fancied)
Today's selections
Conservatives to win over 365.5 seats with Coral at 5/6. (2pts win)
Labour to win under 203.5 seats at 5/6 with Sky Bet. (3pts win)
Labour to win fewer than 200 seats at 5/4 with Sky Bet. (3pts win)
Labour to win 30-35% of the vote share at 13/8 with Coral. (2pts Win)
Labour to win Warrington North and Ashfield constituencies at 4/5. (4pts Win)
Liberal Democrats to have under 11.5 seats at 8/11 with Sky Bet. (4pts Win)
Liberal Democrats to win between 10-19 seats with Sky Bet at 4/6. (4pts Win)
Turnout to be between 60 to 65% at 6/4 with Coral. (5pts Win NAP - best bet of the day)
Yvette Cooper to be next Labour leader at 2/1 with Sky Bet. (1pt Win)
Advised on April 19
Conservatives to win more than 345.5 seats at 5/6 with Paddy Power.
Conservatives to win more over 372.5 seats at 5/6 with Sky Bet.
Labour to win fewer than 200 seats at 2/5 with Sky Bet.
Labour to win over 169.5 seats at 5/6 with Sky Bet.
Liberal Democrats to win under 25.5 seats at 5/6 with Paddy Power.
UKIP to fail to win a single seat available at a generous 3/5 with Paddy Power.
Sky Bet's offer of 5/6 that turnout will be over 62.5%.
Keir Starmer to be next Labour leader at 5/1 with Sky Bet.
David Miliband to be next Labour leader at 16/1 with Ladbrokes.
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