Tories favourites to take Lincolnshire seats

The Tories will complete a clean sweep of Lincolnshire's parliamentary seats at the next General Election, according to the bookies.

Punters are being offered short odds on the county turning blue at the ballot box with Conservative candidate Karl McCartney installed as favourite to end Labour MP Gillian Merron's 13-year tenure as Lincoln representative.

Mr McCartney is listed by Ladbrokes at 1/5 to take control of the city seat at the second attempt with Ms Merron at 3/1.

Liberal Democrat nomination Reg Shore is a distant third at 100/1 with English Democrats candidate Ernest Coleman not listed.

In Gainsborough, Edward Leigh is 1/200 to hold onto his seat ahead of Liberal Democrat Pat O'Connor while Louth and Horncastle member Sir Peter Tapsell is tipped to comfortably remain in power with odds standing at 1/500.

Ladbrokes also predict departing Tory MP for Sleaford and North Hykeham, Douglas Hogg, will be succeeded by his Conservative replacement Stephen Phillips.

Lincoln Tory hopeful Mr McCartney said he believed the odds would not allow the public to "make their millions" by placing bets on him, but he was confident voters wanted a change.

Mr McCartney said: "While on the doorstep when canvassing across the Lincoln constituency, or at the 14 recent public meetings I have held, the reception and feeling towards the Conservatives has been overwhelmingly positive, although nothing is certain until the electors cast their votes on election day."

Ms Merron said: "When I'm knocking on doors across Lincoln, people tell me that they are worried about the Tories putting the recovery at risk, taking away our rights to NHS care and making life tougher for families.

"This election will be a choice between Labour and the Conservatives, about the kind of future we want for Lincoln, and it's too important to gamble on."

A General Election must take place before June 3 but speculation has suggested it might coincide with local elections on May 6.