Incumbent Boris 1-8 to remain London Mayor

POLL after poll indicates that Boris Johnson has a healthy lead over his rivals for Thursday’s London mayoral elections and the Conservative candidate is 1-8 to win the most votes.

The incumbent has not surrendered favouritism since he took office after winning the 2008 election and Paddy Power have already paid out on Johnson staying in the role.

The firm also felt so sorry for the 12 people who had backed struggling Liberal Democrat candidate Brian Paddick that they refunded bets on him.

Ken Livingstone’s hopes of regaining the role are rated about as likely as those of Nicolas Sarkozy holding on to the French presidency – he’s 11-2 to do so  – and Livingstone is dismissed as a  6-1 chance to return to office.

Hills saidit had been one-way traffic for Johnson and although only 49 per cent of bets in the next mayor market had come for him, over 91 per of the money staked had been on him.

Hills offer Johnson at 2-1 to win the 2016 London mayoral election, but by then he may be eyeing a bigger prize – he is 9-1 fourth favourite with Paddy Power to be the next prime minister.

Paddy Power offer 8-11 about Labour gaining under 800 seats in the UK  local elections (evens more) but there seems to be some good news for Labour in London. Ladbrokes go 4-7 they win the most seats in the capital’s assembly.