Lord Prescott odds-on favourite for PCC role

“Come on John! Not long to go now! Gosh what will all those windbags do and the gobby cop
do when that regular tea party comes to an end. They'll be scrapping over boards, committees,
and all manner of things in order to replace the nice little earner they've been on for years.
A white elephant if ever there was one. RIP.”

“BY 1 2 Clear

Absolutely spot on with your account here!

What is even more intriguing at best - dodgy at worst - is that the Scunthorpe Telegraph had to pull its original report after all the shenanigans with the opening/closing of bets and the rapidly changing and dubious betting odds.

I mean the gulf between 1/5 for Prescott and 100/1 for Matthew Grove when Humberside holds a 30,000 notional majority for the conservatives. The way the odds dramatically shortened from 100/1 to 6/1 on Matthew Grove in less than 12 hours!! And Paul Davison at 7/2 when only one turned up for a North Hull husting and 7 at Barton!!??

The Scunthorpe Telegraph conceded to readers' concerns/doubts and put up an updated report mid morning on Friday which was then also pulled later that day!? Presumably in response to the final closing of all bets and, perhaps due to the many searching questions fired at William Hill's Press Office?!

So you now have to ask the question why GT/Northcliffe decided to put this report up on Saturday?! And more to the point does it reinforce the widespread perception - moreso amongst many HDM readers - that our local media are giving Prescott undue succour, bias and coverage in respect of this PCC election campaign?!”

“It is only a few years ago that J Prescott was involved in the scandal of MP's expenses, fitting tudor beams to his house etc how could we trust this man as Police Commissioner ?”

“How interesting – this story was first run by the Scunthorpe Telegraph quoting some crazy odds offered by William Hill on Friday.

As someone who is connected to Matthew Grove's campaign I spoke to bookmakers William Hill, who knew very little about this and didn't even have a book open on the Humberside PCC Election. They couldn't establish where the story had come from although the Scunthorpe Telegraph still maintained they had been provided with the odds.

William Hill called me back to say that they had looked into it and would open a 'book' for a short period of time online with the quoted odds of Matthew Grove winning at a ridiculous 100/1 - but would only take bets of £10 maximum. Within minutes of opening the odds on Matthew Grove plummeted and continued to fall as the day went on - before the online book was removed during the afternoon – and interestingly still remains closed.

Readers will able to make up their minds about these odds, but based on the information available and also what John Prescott is saying about being up against a 30,000 inbuilt majority in favour of the Tories in 'Humberside' - if you are able to get 10/1 on Matthew Grove winning in Humberside I would recommend you snap the bookies hand off!”

“that will mean a "prescott " only lane from Sutton to HQ then”

“god forbid that Prescoot wins”