The finishing post is in sight

I don’t know a single person in Westminster willing to predict the outcome of the Mayoral election. Most people I speak to say their gut tells them Livingstone will win, but they can’t rationalise it. The bookmakers, however, are seeing a decisive shift to Boris, who has been cut from 4/7 to 1/2 by Ladbrokes. It has just released a statement saying “For every pound we’re taking on Livingstone we are currently taking two on Johnson. If money talks Johnson wins.” 

We should also factor in a significant media swing behind Boris in the last few days, and I’ll eat my hat if Andrew Gilligan doesn’t have a nasty surprise for Ken up his sleeve in the Evening Standard. Tomorrow’s Spectator will, of course, put forward the case for our candidate. But, in the end, this race will be decided by whoever gets Paddick’s second preference votes. We’re then into the non-logic of the Labour Party deputy leadership contest.