Odds for Ukip win in Rochester and Strood improve after Clacton victory

The chances of Ukip winning the Rochester and Strood by-election have been boosted by today's big win in Clacton and the party's rise to become a serious challenger at Heywood and Middleton, according to bookmakers.

 

The constituency is set for a by-election on November 6, after Conservative MP Mark Reckless defected to Ukip the weekend before last. 

 

Although Reckless is the incumbent, Rochester and Strood is seen as a tougher win for Ukip – but since last night's victory in Essex, and the near-win in the Greater Manchester area of Heywood and Middleton, bookies suggest Reckless could benefit from a bounce. 

 

Odds had shortened across the board this morning, with Ladbrokes offering 2/5 on a Ukip win, Coral 2/9 and both Sky Bet and William Hill offering 1/4.

 

Ukip was the most popular party to bet on this morning, Oddschecker showed, while the Lib Dems are out in the cold. 

 

Paddy Power is now showing that the odds of Ukip getting at least 9.5 per cent of the vote at the next general election stand at 4/7. 

 

With Labour performing worse than expected in the Heywood and Middleton by-election, this morning odds were 3/1 that Yvette Cooper would be the next Labour leader, with Andy Burnham at 6/1 and Chuka Umunna at 7/1. 

 

It will also be illuminating to see how the odds move on who will be next to jump ship to Ukip. Here is what the smart money said previously.