Punters at one of Great Britain's largest sportsbooks are betting that Gordon Brown's time may be up. The sportsbooks are likely not shedding a tear as Gordon's administration has been at odds over the industry related to taxation issues.
Customers at William Hill believe one of the few Labour MPs apparently untainted by the expenses scandal will emrge to succeed Gordon Brown as leader of the Party.
Hills have cut their odds about Alan Johnson from 4/1 to 3/1 clear favourite, with David Miliband down from 7/1 to 6/1; his brother Ed Miliband from 10/1 to 7/1, and Hillary Benn down from 33/1 to 20/1.
'These four seem have emerged unscathed and with their reputations if anything enhanced' said Hill's spokesman Graham Sharpe, 'And our punters clearly believe that when the dust eventually settles someone with reputation still intact is likely to have a strong card to play when it comes to electing a new Leader for the Party.'
Meanwhile, William Hill have cut the odds about Gordon Brown standing down before the next general election from 9/4 to 7/4.
'The opinion is growing that with the June Euro Elections to negotiate and the current scandal hanging over his head, Gordon Brown is becoming a political dead man walking' added Sharpe.
HILLS; NETX LABOUR LEADER; 3/1 Alan Johnson; 6/1 Hariet Harman; 6/1 David Miliband; 7/1 Ed Miliband;8/1 Jon Cruddas, James Purnell, Jack Straw; 10/1 John Denman; 14/1 Ed Balls; 20/1 Hillary Benn. (Others on request)
LOWEST EURO ELECTION VOTER TURNOUT EVER? YOU BET
BOOKMAKERS William Hill are offering 10/1 that disgruntled voters will boycott the Euro Elections as a protest, resulting in the lowest ever voter turnout since they began in 1979. 'The lowest ever voter turnout for the Euro elections was in 1999 when only 24.02% voted' said Hill's spokesman Graham Sharpe, 'You couldn't rule out that record being lowered even further this time out'
WILLIAM HILL: EURO ELECTION VOTER TURNOUT:
Less than 30% - 5/1
30 - 34.99% - 11/4
35 - 38.83% - 11/8
Over 38.83% - 5/2
UKIP CLOSE IN ON LABOUR
UKIP have been backed from 9/4 to 7/4 with William Hill to win more seats at the Euro Elections than Labour, who have lengthened from 4/6 to Evens to beat that Party, with a tie between them offered at 3/1.
Hills have also cut their odds for UKIP to end up with 15 or more seats from 7/4 to 5/4. They are 4/7 not to collect that many.
HILLS OFFER 1/5 THAT THE BNP WILL WIN A SEAT, 3/1 THAT THEY WILL GET FIVE OR MORE; WHILE THE GREEN PARTY ARE 3/1 TO DOUBLE THEIR NUMBERS TO TEN OR MORE.
WILL ONE OR MPs QUIT OVER EXPENSES?
SPEAKER 5/1 TO GO BEFORE ELECTION
WILLIAM HILL offer 5/1 that Speaker Michael Martin will step down before the General Election, 1/9 that he will not. 'Despite criticism of the Speaker it is politically almost impossible to make him stand down other than voluntarily, and he shows no signs of doing that' said Hill's spokesman Graham Sharpe.
HILLS MAKE ALAN HASELHURST EVEN MONEY FAVOURITE to succeed Michael Martin as permanent Speaker, and also offer 2/1 Menzies Campbell; 10/1Richard Shepherd; 12/1 Michael Lord; 16/1 Roger Gale; John Heppell.
