Tony Blair To Back Brown In Leadership Race

William Hill have opened a book on the date on which Tony Blair will name the specific date on which he will step down as Prime Minister. They are also offering odds of 7/2 about Tony Blair publicly supporting and endorsing Gordon Brown as his preferred successor before the Leadership Election voting process gets underway.

"The bet will be won if Mr Blair nominates Gordon Brown in public as his preferred contender for the Leadership Election" said William Hill's spokesman Graham Sharpe.

William Hill offer 5/4 that he will do so between January 1 and May 2, 2007 - the day before the local elections take place; 5/2 that he will do it between May 3 - September 7, 2007 - the latter being the date on which the maximum twelve month timeframe he announced on Thursday; 11/4 on or before September 28, 2006 - the last day of the Labour Party Conference; 13/2 September 29 - December 31, 2006; 16/1 September 8, 2007 onwards.

William Hill are also offering odds on when Tony Blair will officially cease to be Prime Minister and have taken a bet of £1800 at 7/4 that it will be on or before December 31, 2006, but make any time in 2007 their 2/5 favourite with 2008 or later quoted at 20/1.