The Conservatives are being tipped to hold both Mid Bedfordshire and Tamworth in by-elections this week, with bookies furiously rowing back on earlier predictions that both seats would change hands.
The two seats up for grabs this week were won comfortably by the Conservatives at the 2019 general election and will need large shifts in public opinion to change hands.
Mid Beds was vacated by Nadine Dorries after the former culture secretary stood down more than 10 weeks after announcing her intention to quit.
‘Wanted’ posters were seen in the constituency after it was revealed that Dorries had not spoken in the Commons since June 2022, and last voted in April of the same year.
In Tamworth, meanwhile, voters will go to the polls after Chris Pincher resigned after losing his appeal against a suspension for drunkenly groping two men.
It was widely believed that the Tories would lose both seats in what would amount to unprecedented losses in both constituencies.
But Christopher Hope, the political editor of GB News, is reporting that senior Tory and Labour figures have forecast a double Tory win on Thursday.
The bookies have also been rowing back on earlier predictions that the seats will change hands.
The Tories are priced at evens to win Mid Bedfordshire with Labour 6/4, while Sir Keir Starmer’s party remains favoured in Tamworth but only just (2/7 vs 9/4).
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