Labour's Crewe and Nantwich campaign video.

I remember seeing this sketch when I was a kid back in Barnsley. It is still my favourite comedy sketch. Enjoy:

Crewe and Nantwich result - Conservative win!

Well it's 2:24 in the morning and the returning officer is about to announce the result of the Crewe and Nantwich by-election. It's obvious that the Conservatives have won. The rumour is that it's a big win.

Here goes:

Con: 20539

lab 12679

Lib: 6044

Get in!

That fantastic result equates to a swing of 17.6% and a majority of almost 8,000. What now for Gordon Brown? What is that scraping sound I can hear? - it sounds a little like several knives being sharpened.

Sent from my BlackBerry® wireless device

UPDATE @02:45: John McDonnell is the first Labour MP to stick the knife into Gordon Brown this morning. I doubt very much that he will be the last:

"Things are just going from bad to worse for the Government. "It would be an immense misreading of the situation for New Labour ministers to dismiss this result as simply mid-term blues. The prime minister's re-launch after the disaster of the local election results has proved to be totally ineffective."

Crewe and Nantwich - £90,000 bet on Conservative win.

From William Hill:

NINETY THOUSAND POUND BET ON TORIES TO WIN CREWE BY ELECTION

A WILLIAM HILL client has staked £90,000 on the Conservatives to win the Crewe & Nantwich by-election. After betting £40,000 at odds of 1/16 on Tuesday in a Hill's central London branch, the same man returned on Thursday to stake a further £50,000 at 1/25. With the Conservatives red-hot favourites, the man stands to get back £94,500 in total.

'This is the biggest ever bet staked on a by-election and it contrasts starkly with the fact that we have taken a total of just £385 for Labour to win' said Hill's spokesman Graham Sharpe.

WILLIAM HILL CREWE BY-ELECTION ODDS: 1/33 Conservatives; 10/1 Labour; 50/1 Lib Dems.

Hills offer 8/1 that the Lib Dems will finish ahead of Labour, and 1/20 vice-versa.

Crewe and Nantwich - And the Polls are open.

It's a bit sad I know, but I've been looking forward to today's by-election in Crewe and Nantwich as much, if not more than last night's footie (well done ManU). I've got a feeling in my water that unlike last night, we are going to see a massive (10,000 ish) win for the blues. I received a press release last night from the lovely people at PoliticsHome. Unfortunately I couldn't post it as, one - it arrived just before the football started, and two - I was at work (12 hr night shift). The said press release indicated their PHI100 panel's opinion on what would be a good or bad result for the two main parties involved:

I have to agree with the panel that anything over 4000 for the Conservatives would be a really good win, but as I said, I'm expecting more. The reason I'm predicting such a large win? The way I see it is that Labour (Gordon Brown in particular) are becoming more unpopular by the day and I think they are in for one mighty shock when the counting is over. I've been saying for six months that Brown will be on his way in May this year, and I would say that there is an 80 per cent likelihood of his ultimate demise being set in motion on Friday.

Ditching Gordon Brown will not help Labour win the next election - they've become too unpopular and even that won't help them. It will however give them a fighting chance of remaining the second largest party in parliament. The drums are beating and coalitions are being formed behind closed doors in the Labour party. You can bet that getting rid of Gordon plan A and plan B are ready to roll. Plan A will probably based around forcing Gordon to step down through a lack of support - i.e. he will be slagged off something chronic by a large number of Labour MPs in the press. Plan B will require MPs to play by the rules and I don't think they want to wait that long or drag the party through the mire.

So that's my prediction. I'll update this post after the dust has settled to either say "ooh ooh I'm the King" or to eat humble pie.

Crewe and Nantwich - William Hill take record £40,000 bet (Tory win),

Press release from William Hill:

Conservative Cheer In Crewe As Punter Places Biggest Ever By Election Bet!
William Hill have today taken the biggest ever by election bet, when a customer from central London placed £40,000 on a Conservative victory in the Crewe & Nantwich by election at odds of 1/16 and should he be successful he will collect £42,500. As a result Hills have slashed the price of a Conservative victory from 1/16 to 1/20 and offer the Labour party at 8/1 (Lib Dem 20/1).

"This is a massive political punt, nobody risks £40,000 to win just £2,500 unless they are certain of victory. We are not 100% sure of the punters political affiliation but the description does not match that of Gordon Brown, who is likely to be in for a miserable few days," said Hill's spokesman Rupert Adams.

Also - William Hill have halved their odds for Gordon Brown to be ousted as Prime Minister this year from 5/1 to 5/2 after significant support for him to be out by the end of the year. 'Punters seem convinced that Mr Brown is on the way out sooner rather than later.'