With just three weeks to go before the general election UKIP’s odds of claiming the Stevenage seat have been halved.

Bookmakers William Hill have cut the odds of the party’s candidate David Collins from claiming a historic victory from 66/1 to 33/1 ahead of the national poll on Thursday, May 7.

Self-made businessman Mr Collins has put a £500 bet on himself claiming the seat, which has contributed to reducing the odds.

He says that if he wins he is going to donate the winnings to the Herts Air Ambulance and the Herts MS Therapy Centre in Letchworth.

Mr Collins revealed he is even more confident than the odds suggest that he could produce one of the biggest upsets in election history.

“We’re campaigning hard and have had a great response from people we’ve talked to,” he said.

He believes that the UK needs to leave the European Union, its biggest trading partner, because of the money the country pays to Brussels and because it allows too many immigrants to come into the country which the organisations like the NHS cannot cope with.

Mr Collins also believes the Conservative party will not hold a referendum on EU membership, despite promising to do so if they are reelected.

He added: “I’m standing because something needs to be done.”