‘The First 100 Days’ does nothing to dissuade UKIP backers

It seems that not even a Channel 4 docudrama which depicts scenes of rioting and mass unemployment under a UKIP government can halt the rise of Nigel Farage and co.

While ordinarily, such scare tactics could have the masses running to the hills when it comes to backing the controversial party, Monday’s programme seems to have backfired on the party’s critics.

Indeed, such was the outcry, that UKIP: The First 100 Days caused, between them OFCOM and Channel 4 received nearly 1000 complaints from viewers.

Putting the 731 complaints to OFCOM in perspective, that number would have put it fifth in the most complained about programmes in 2014.

As you can expect, leader Farage was keen to have his say.

Look like #100DaysOfUKIP may well have backfired on Channel 4. A biased, partisan depiction of the only party that Believes in Britain.

— Nigel Farage (@Nigel_Farage) February 16, 2015

He went on to tell LBC Radio; “Political debate is one thing…but this wasn’t that”.

And while some television channels seem destined to further tarnish the party’s name, the betting suggests support for them has rarely been higher.

According to Ladbrokes’ latest betting for the upcoming General Election, UKIP are now favourites to claim wins in seven different constituencies.

If taking each of that septet of seats, the party would strip the Conservatives of seven key constituencies in the battle for power.

Politics trader Matthew Shaddick shed more light on this in his Political Bookie blog:

“The most recent move has been in Rochester, where Mark Reckless improved from joint to outright favourite today. The immediate betting reaction to their by-election win had been that the Tories were likely to take it back in May – that’s no longer the case”.

While, according the odds, only Clacton (1/14) has more than a 58 per cent chance of falling the way of UKIP, the price on them taking at least six seats continues to shorten.

Now an 8/11 shot they come in ‘Over 5.5 seats’ in May, having previously been even money three weeks ago, the rise of Farage supporters shows no sign of letting up.

All odds and markets are correct as of the date of publishing.

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