Mark Durkan Still Up Against The Odds In Euro Election Bid

Mark Durkan is facing an uphill battle according to punters if he is to take a seat for Fine Gael in the upcoming European elections, despite seeing his odds being trimmed this week.

The former SDLP leader shocked political observers earlier this year by announcing he was standing for Fine Gael in the Dublin constituency with an extra reserve seat up for grabs there to be taken up once the UK leaves the EU.

While the recent betting has seen Durkan’s chances of taking one of the seats close into 11/4 from 10/3,

…there are still 5 candidates rated ahead of him in the market with running mate and former Tánaiste Frances Fitzgerald a red hot 1/20 shot to take a seat.

Sinn Féin’s Lynn Boylan and Barry Andrews of Fianna Fáil are also odds-on at 1/5, meaning the odds suggest Durkan will be up against 8/13 Clare Daly (Independents4Change) and 8/11 Ciaran Cuffe (Greens) for the additional seat in the constituency.

Fine Gael are expected to come out as the party with most Irish seats at the European elections, as an Irish Times/Ipsos MRBI poll recently suggested they would come out on top in all three constituencies. The odds back that up as they are 1/4 to return most candidates with Fianna Fáil at 5/2.

*Prices correct at time of publication