Meacher 50/1 To Replace Tony Blair

Michael Meacher may well have announced that he will contest the Labour leadership but bookmakers William Hill rate him as a 50/1 outsider with Gordon Brown the overwhelming favourite at 1/12.

David Miliband is the 10/1 second favourite with John Reid offered at 11/1.

"The race to become the next Labour leader looks like a three horse race with Gordon Brown some way ahead of both Miliband and Reid, Michael Meacher has not ever cleared the first fence," said William Hill's spokesman Rupert Adams.

Next Permanent Labour Leader - Betting Odds: 1/12 G Brown, 10/1 D Miliband, 11/1 J Reid, 33/1 P Hain, 33/1 H Benn, 33/1 A Milburn, 50/1 M Beckett, 50/1 J Straw, 50/1 J Prescott, 50/1 D Browne, 50/1 E Balls, 50/1 M Meacher, 66/1 C Clarke, 100/1 T Jowell, 100/1 G Hoon, 100/1 A Darling.