Punters Snub Brown In Leadership Race

William Hill have not taken a single three figure bet for Gordon Brown to succeed Tony Blair as Labour leader since Tony Blair announced that he would be standing down within a year, and although he remains favourite, William Hill have lengthened his odds from 1/5 to 2/9, and shortened second favourite Alan Johnson from 6/1 to 5/1.

"It seems that punters are not keen to back Gordon Brown - regardless of whether he tries to convince them that he is British, Scottish or from the planet Zog" said William Hill's spokesman Graham Sharpe.

"The momentum has gone out of the Brown betting bandwagon, and his odds have more than doubled in recent weeks, from the 1/10 he used to be, while we are now seeing far more bets for challengers like Alan Johnson, who is attracting first class support, and John Reid - maybe this could turn into an interesting race after all."

William Hill make John Reid 8/1 third favourite and also offer 12/1 David Miliband; 25/1 Alan Milburn; Jack Straw; 33/1 Hillary Benn; 50/1 Margaret Beckett; Des Browne; Peter Hain; John Prescott; 66/1 Charles Clarke; 100/1 Hazel Blears; Tessa Jowell; Geoff Hoon; John McDonnell.