Tony Blair 7/4 To Be Out By New Year's Day

William Hill make Tony Blair odds-on to cease to be Prime Minister in 2007, quoting odds of 2/5 for that to happen - but William Hill say that their customers are betting that Tony Blair will leave office on or before December 31, 2006 - and have slashed the odds about that happening from 5/1 to just 7/4.

William Hill are offering 20/1 that Mr Blair will defy all of his critics and not be out of office until 2008 or later.

"The pundits seem to believe that Mr Blair will go in 2007 but some very shrewd political punters are backing him not to make it to New Year's Day as Prime Minister" said William Hill spokesman Graham Sharpe.

Gordon Brown is hot favourite at 1/5 to succeed Tony Blair as Prime Minister with William Hill who have promoted former postman Alan Johnson to 6/1 second favourite from 8/1, with John Reid now 8/1 third favourite.

William Hill also offer 12/1 David Miliband; 25/1 Alan Milburn; Jack Straw; 33/1 Hillary Benn; 50/1 Margaret Beckett; Des Browne; Peter Hain; John Prescott; 66/1 Charles Clarke; 100/1 Hazel Blears; Tessa Jowell; Geoff Hoon.

"Mr Brown has been favourite since this book was opened ten or more years ago, yet in that time his odds have doubled from 1/10 to 1/5 and people are still reluctant to back him like the certainty the political pundits believe him to be" said William Hill's spokesman Graham Sharpe.

"Perhaps they remember that when the last long-serving leader, Margaret Thatcher, was ousted , she was replaced by a 33/1 outsider in John Major."

The Conservatives have benefited from the Labour row and are now 4/7 favourites to win the next General Election with William Hill - the shortest odds they have been since losing power.

William Hill make Labour 5/4 shots - the longest odds they have been since coming to power, with the Lib Dems 80/1 outsiders. Hills have cut the odds about a hung parliament from 9/4 to 7/4.