Tories Go Clear In Election Race

With the Conservatives riding high in the polls, William Hill have made them clear favourites to win the next General Election for the first time, cutting their odds from 4/5 to 8/11, while Labour are now offered at Even money - the first time they have not been odds-on since they came to power almost ten years ago.

"The momnentum has swung to the Conservatives - Labour's best hope of getting it back is if England do well in the World Cup and Mr Blair claims credit!" said William Hill's spokesman Graham Sharpe.

Meanwhile, Jack Straw has been made 5/2 second favourite to take over from John Prescott as Deputy Prime Minister by William Hill who make former postman Alan Johnson 7/4 favourite to be next in the role, with Harriet Harman at 3/1 third favourite; Peter Hain a 5/1 shot; Hazel Blears 6/1 and Patricia Hewitt 8/1.

William Hill make Prescott 6/5 to be out of his post as Deputy Prime Minister by July 1; 8/13 to still be in office on that date. "The money suggests it is now more a question of when rather than if Mr Prescott will go and runners seem to be openly lining up for the race to succeed him." said William Hill's spokesman Graham Sharpe.