Voting starts across Reading

Adam Hewitt • Published 6 May 2010 10:00 Comments 1 Comment

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ELECTORS in Reading can make their vote count today - while knowing their X is worth more than across swathes of the country.

The economy has been the biggest issue of this election so that is the topic for our candidates in this week's Big Debate - what would they do about unemployment, is the recession definitely over, and will they raise our taxes to plug the deficit?

The Voter Power Index project found that each vote in Reading East is worth three times more than the national average because it is such a tightly-fought marginal and each vote in Reading West is worth 1.09 votes.

The Tory candidates are favoured in both seats - and in every Berkshire seat except Slough - but Labour have not given up, the Lib Dems have been campaigning strongly and got a boost from the leaders' debates and the smaller parties and independent candidates have all got their voices heard, not least through The Chronicle's Big Debate series every week.

Aside from these big issues - health, education, crime and the economy - each party has been getting its national priorities across in The Chronicle, through letters and leaflets and on the doorstep. Election issues have also included the future of Reading Station, bus services, neighbourhood policing, small businesses, the Bath Road Reservoir, Afghanistan, library refurbishments, immigration, the Olympic Games, ID cards, post offices, knife crime, Heathrow's third runway, Reading borough's children's centres and alleyway gating.

The boost in Lib Dem support has prompted bookmakers to slash the odds on Gareth Epps taking Reading East from nearly 40/1 to just 4/1 on average, but incumbent Conservative Rob Wilson is still the clear favourite to retain the seat. Labour's Anneliese Dodds' odds range from 8/1 to 16/1 with the major bookies.

In Reading West Labour is in a better position with Naz Sarkar at 2/1, but Tory Alok Sharma is the favourite.

Lib Dem Daisy Benson has also seen odds cut but the race is clearly volatile; her odds range from just 25/1 at online gambling website, bet365.com, to 7/1 with Ladbrokes.

Independent Reading-based bookies Taylor's is only taking bets on the overall Parliamentary result, with No Overall Majority at 4/6 and a Tory majority at 6/5.

Have your say. Post a comment on this article.

BGarvie
Unregistered User
May 6, 14:13
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In reply to the gaffe prone Labour candidate for Reading West, Mr. Sarkar's comments hides the facts his party intends to implement more debilitating tax rises and onerous business regulations if elected.

Sarkar's pathetic attempt to rewrite history is naïve, committing another customary gaffe when inferring dysfunctional Chancellor Brown had to repair an inherited national debt in 1997. Sarkar obviously failed in his Public School education wherein he should know historically Brown inherited duly audited Treasury books with billions in surplus, a sound economy and buoyant gold reserves. I couldn't possibly repeat the derogatory remarks made about Mr Sarkar by an astute former Labour MP for Reading East.

Since that time Brown has sold half the nation's gold reserves at the lowest price, losing the UK over £11 BILLION, squandered billions, borrowed irresponsibly and built an unsustainable national debt of £178 BILLION. He has ruined our pensions, ruined our savings, ruined businesses, ruined our economy and saddled our children and grand children with massive Government debt. Brown has betrayed our brave forces fighting overseas by withdrawing funding at critical times. Labour policies to continue borrowing at the rate of £54 million per day are adding to the unsustainable national debt. The Chairman of the Bank of England is critical and worried about our credit rating.

Sarkar neglects to say his Party will implement a tidal wave of debilitating legislation that will penalise businesses and put more jobs at risk. He doesn't mention Harman's Equality Bill that will cost businesses an extra £190 million bringing neither justice nor fai

ess. New directives regarding part time workers will cost jobs and an extra £1.5 BILLION; additional company pension provisions for part timers will cost another £4.8 BILLION. National Insurance is going to increase again and will cost another £14 BILLION. Those legislating are frankly ‘killing' business and the jobs they provide. Sarkar's aspirations to join a dysfunctional Government, employing no business acumen and flawed economic strategies, will precipitate more business closures and increase unemployment. Eminent economists, including Labour's Lord Desai, agree Brown & Darling do not have a coherent strategy to reduce this unsustainable Government deficit.

No, Mr. Sarkar, the country needs change; it cannot survive another 5 years of incompetent and dysfunctional Labour Government leaving a legacy of business closures and despair because they are out of touch, out of ideas and out of time. The only sensible vote is for the Conservative candidate, Alok Sharma, a local candidate who has worked exceedingly hard for the last four years helping Reading West prepare itself to fight for the recovery. Only a strong Conservative Government can get this country back onto its feet again.

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