Bookies Throw In Towel And Pay Out On Brown

Bookmakers William Hill have wasted no time in declaring Gordon Brown Prime Minister-elect, and for the first time in political betting history are paying out to all those customers who, over the past ten years, have backed the Chancellor to succeed Tony Blair.

"It will cost us a significant six figure sum", said William Hill's spokesman Rupert Adams. "The decision has not been taken lightly but effectively it would only be delaying the inevitable to wait while the process of appointing Tony Blair's successor takes place. All of the remotely credible rivals to Gordon Brown have already ruled themselves out and it would be churlish to sit on the money for six or seven weeks as some patient punters have now been waiting over a decade to be paid out".

William Hill, who made Gordon Brown 5/1 favourite to succeed Tony Blair on the day Labour won the 1997 General Election were quoting him at 1/200 by the time Tony Blair made his departure announcement.

The bookies have now opened the books on who Gordon Brown will appoint as Chancellor and Home Secretary and who will be voted in as next Deputy Labour Leader.