Tony Blair To Quit Odds Cut To 6/4 After Vote

Is Tony Blair's premiership coming to an end? Following his embarrassing reliance on the Tories to help his education measures through the Commons, the odds against Tony Blair standing down as Prime Minister during 2006 have been cut from 2/1 to 6/4 by bookmakers William Hill.

"Mr Blair's position can only be weakened by the fact that he had to be bailed out by the Tories, and that must undermine his authority within his own Party" said William Hill's spokesman Graham Sharpe. "However, we think he is probably safe in the short term, and we make next year, 2007, 6/5 favourite to be the year of his departure from office."

William Hill have also lengthened the odds about Labour winning the next General Election from 4/6 to 8/11 - the longest odds they have ever been since coming to power, while they have shortened the Tories from 11/10 to Even money - the shortest they have been since losing power.

And William Hill now make Gordon Brown 1/7 favourite to become the next leader of the Labour Party, and also offer 8/1 David Milliband; 14/1 Charles Clark; John Reid; Jack Straw.

William Hill have lengthened the odds about Tony Blair staying as PM for long enough to beat Margaret Thatcher's record eleven and a half year stint from 5/1 to 7/1.