Politicalbetting.com
Encyclopedia
Politicalbetting.com is one of Britain's political blogs. Run by Mike Smithson
, a former BBC journalist, Liberal Democrat councillor and general election candidate, the site began in March 2004.
Unlike many other British political blogs, politicalbetting asserts itself to be non-partisan, although Smithson himself is a Liberal Democrat. As the site's name suggests, the focus is on political betting opportunities, but the focus is rather broader, in the sense that political issues of the day have an impact on the various betting markets. The site has a particular focus on opinion polls, and in general is more concerned with the technical aspects of politics than most other blogs.
The site has attracted a large number of people leaving comments, with up to three posts a day (mostly written by Smithson) typically seeing several hundred comments, many of whom have no interest or knowledge of political betting but follow the site for its coverage of the fortunes and likely electoral success of political parties in Britain. On an average day the volume of comments exceeds 30,000 words. People posting comments include MPs John Hemming
and Stewart Jackson
and the former MP Nick Palmer
. The site sticks almost entirely to British and American politics, with an occasional mention of Australian and Japanese elections, and major elections in other European and Commonwealth countries.
The success of the site has led Smithson to publish a book, The Political Punter, a guide to betting on politics.
Mike Smithson (politics)
Mike Smithson is a writer, a Liberal Democrat politician and expert on betting on politics who in 2004 founded the website politicalbetting.com. Since January 2008 he has been the full-time editor of the site....
, a former BBC journalist, Liberal Democrat councillor and general election candidate, the site began in March 2004.
Unlike many other British political blogs, politicalbetting asserts itself to be non-partisan, although Smithson himself is a Liberal Democrat. As the site's name suggests, the focus is on political betting opportunities, but the focus is rather broader, in the sense that political issues of the day have an impact on the various betting markets. The site has a particular focus on opinion polls, and in general is more concerned with the technical aspects of politics than most other blogs.
The site has attracted a large number of people leaving comments, with up to three posts a day (mostly written by Smithson) typically seeing several hundred comments, many of whom have no interest or knowledge of political betting but follow the site for its coverage of the fortunes and likely electoral success of political parties in Britain. On an average day the volume of comments exceeds 30,000 words. People posting comments include MPs John Hemming
John Hemming (politician)
John Alexander Melvin Hemming is a British politician, the Member of Parliament for Birmingham Yardley and Group Chair of the Liberal Democrats on the city council of Birmingham, England....
and Stewart Jackson
Stewart Jackson
Stewart James Jackson is a British politician. A member of the Conservative Party, he is the Member of Parliament for Peterborough.-Early life:...
and the former MP Nick Palmer
Nick Palmer
Nicholas Douglas Palmer is a British Labour Party politician. He was the Member of Parliament for Broxtowe in Nottinghamshire from 1997 until he lost the seat at the 2010 general election to Conservative Anna Soubry, by 390 votes.Described by Andrew Roth as "quietly effective", he was...
. The site sticks almost entirely to British and American politics, with an occasional mention of Australian and Japanese elections, and major elections in other European and Commonwealth countries.
The success of the site has led Smithson to publish a book, The Political Punter, a guide to betting on politics.