Labour 25/1 To Lose Tony's Sedgefield Seat

With a Sedgefield by-election taking place after Tony Blair announced he was stepping down as its MP, William Hill make Labour 1/ 200 to retain the seat - and 25/1 to lose it.

At the last General Election, Tony Blair polled 58.9% of the votes cast, and William Hill are offering 6/4 that Labour will poll less than that at the by-election; 6/1 that they will get 58.9 - 59.9% and 8/11 that they clock up 60% or more of the votes cast.

William Hill have also begun paying out to punters who took their odds of 6/4 that Tony Blair's first job after stepping down would be as a Middle East Special Envoy. "After costing us millions by winning three General Elections, he continued to cost us money to the bitter end- we certainly won't miss him. In actual fact we are a little concerned at the number of bets we have taken at 50/1 for Blair to return as PM within five years!" said William Hill's spokesman Graham Sharpe.