Peter Thirlwall betting he can beat the odds

Following a report in last week’s Advertiser which revealed that Rotherham MP

Dennis MacShane was 200/1 on to retain his seat, Cllr Thirlwall figured that his own odds would be well worth a flutter.

But, unfortunately, Ladbrokes would not give Cllr Thirlwall, the Independent parliamentary candidate for Rotherham, odds on himself when he visited their Bridgegate branch this week.

“I am a little bit disappointed, perhaps it’s because I’m such a dead cert,” joked the Wickersley, resident who is set to challenge Dr MacShane with a campaign funded out of his own pocket

“If I had been able to get proportionately long odds on me winning then I could have funded my whole campaign with a £10 bet if I had won.

“Odds of 200/1 in favour of MacShane are ridiculous really.

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“I was appalled because it would appear that the Labour Party candidates just take the electorate in Rotherham for granted and assume they will be re-elected no matter what.

“I imagine that someone has just looked at Mr MacShane’s majority and how long he has held the seat and come up with the odds from there but they won’t know the other candidates or monitor the mood in the community.”

The Advertiser reported last week how Wentworth MP John Healey was 500/1 on to retain his seat in Parliament and Dr MacShane 200/1 on.

The Rother Valley seat is considered less secure by the bookies, but Ladbrokes still have Kevin Barron at 12/1 on, with Tory Lynda Donaldson at 11/2.