SMITH 7/4 FOR EARLY EXIT

[kompressaur]

Bookmakers William Hill have opened a book on who will be the first high-profile casualty from Gordon Brown's newly-revealed Cabinet.

And they've installed Jacqui Smith, Britain's first female Home Secretary, as their 7/4 favourite to be the first to leave the job.

Hills make Defence Secretary Des Browne 3/1 second favourite, with Peter Hain (Pensions) 4/1 third favourite ahead of 5/1 chance Alan Johnson (Health), 6/1 David Miliband (Foreign Secretary), 7/1 Alistair Darling (Chancellor) and 10/1 Jack Straw (Justice).

"The Premiership sack-race is now an established and popular betting market in football, but this is the first time any bookmaker has introduced something similar for the political betting market," said Hill's spokesman Graham Sharpe.

"We anticipate plenty of betting interest amongst political punters who should love the chance to bet on bad news for politicians."

Bettingzone

[kompressaur]

I can't see any odds for this on Hill's site.

There was a young man called David Miliband he grew whiskers on his.....

Thats all i know i'm afarid. anyone fancy someone for a quick boot?

[kompressaur]

Bloody hell Des Browne used to be my local MP. He's fair come on. He must have licked som ass on the way and maybe the odd cock or two too (not the bird)

[stereoman]

Paddy's have prices up:



Form guide as to who quit under Tony Blair's reign: BBC NEWS | Politics | Timeline: Blair's ministers who quit

One for the tabloid scandal hacks to get their teeth into. There's no rhyme or reason and it could easily be due to a 'family problem' as it is to a cock-up at work.

I suppose Jacqui Smith's the favourite right now in case she makes a misstep particularly with these recent car bombs/suicide bombing attempts.

OT: I've no idea if it's just these ten or seven who apply to both of Paddy Power's and William Hill's market because there's a ton of others who could be the first minister to resign/be sacked ahead of any of the ones in the betting.

BBC NEWS | Politics | Brown unveils huge Cabinet revamp

[stereoman]

Today's Bettingzone Market News:

1340: With the Northern Rock crisis continuing, bookmakers William Hill are offering odds of 8/1 that Chancellor Alistair Darling will be out of office before the end of the year.

"Some shrewd observers of the political scene believe that the Northern Rock affair may well drag him down and out of his job," said Hill's spokesman Graham Sharpe.

[stereoman]

Cut to 3/1 but now look at this. Today's Bettingzone Market News:

1405: William Hill have opened a book on which Cabinet Minister will be the first to leave his or her current post and have made Alistair Darling even money favourite to depart before the others.

Hills have included eight high profile ministers, including the PM in their list and make Jacqui Smith 6/4 second favourite to be the first of them to go and also offer 4/1 Des Browne, 16/1 Alan Johnson, 16/1 David Miliband, 20/1 Ruth Kelly, 25/1 Hilary Benn and 33/1 Gordon Brown.

Hills offer 10/1 that none of these will have left their current position by the time the next General Election takes place.

[stereoman]

All change. Today's Bettingzone Market News:

1315: Bookies Paddy Power have made Harriet Harman their 7/4 favourite to be the next Cabinet Minister to resign amid controversial claims she accepted £5,000 cash from Janet Kidd, the secretary of secret Labour donator property developer David Abrahams.

And it seems the punters agree that her political career is hanging by the finest of threads.

Darren Haines, spokesman for Paddy Power said: "This market is popular with punters whenever a political outrage raises its ugly head but judging by the money we’re seeing coming in for Harriet’s demise this is the biggest scandal to hit Gordon Brown’s Premiership yet."

Also on the bookies list to depart from their post next is Home Secretary Jacqui Smith at 3/1 and Secretary of State for Defence Des Browne at 9/2.

Alan Johnson and David Miliband are considered outsiders in the betting at 20/1 and 22/1 consecutively.

[stereoman]

All change yet again. Today's Bettingzone Market Moves:

0950: William Hill have slashed their odds about Peter Hain being the next Cabinet Minister to leave or lose his or her job from 33/1 outsider to 2/1 hot favourite.

"Mr Hain's donation-related difficulties have encouraged political punters to back him to be the next Cabinet Minister to lose or leave his job and as a result his odds have been slashed," said Hill's spokesman Graham Sharpe.

[stereoman]

Dang. Peter Hain has quit...I never did see that 2/1 on William Hill's website.

BBC NEWS | Politics | Peter Hain resigns from Cabinet

[stereoman]

Who's next to go!? Today's Bettingzone Market Moves:

1115: More from the world of politics and William Hill report that Alistair Darling has been backed in from 5/2 to 7/4 to leave his post as Chancellor before the end of the year.

He is 2/5 from 2/7 to survive in the position until 2009.

Hill's spokesman Graham Sharpe said: "The betting has been one-way traffic - punters are betting Darling is on his way out."

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Political Betting will have landed themselves a small gamble if he goes as I'm pretty sure them and their followers forced the price down.