Liberal Democrat leader Nick Clegg faces the biggest decision of his career as he enters a bidding war with Labour and the Conservatives for the keys to Number 10. What do the political betting markets say?

WITH GORDON BROWN still clinging to power, William Hill now offer 1/3 that he will announce his resignation as Prime Minister before Wednesday and 9/4 that he will still be in office when that day begins. ‘Mr Brown’s days as PM look numbered, but he appears in no rush to depart’ said Hill’s spokesman Graham Sharpe.

WILLIAM HILL OFFER 2/5 THAT THE TORY-LIB DEM AGREEMENT WILL LAST UNTIL AT LEAST MIDNIGHT ON DECEMBER 31, 2010; AND 7/4 THAT EITHER LEADER WILL END IT BEFORE THEN. ‘It is important for both Party Leaders that their agreement proves durable or their own standing and judgement are bound to be called into question.’ said Hill’s spokesman Graham Sharpe.

WHEN WILL WE DO IT ALL AGAIN? William Hill…year of next General Election….7/4 2010; 2/1 11; 7/2 12; 10/1 13; 10/1 14; 12/1 15

David Miliband has been installed by bookies as the clear favourite to take over from Gordon Brown as Labour leader.

WHO WILL BE NEXT LABOUR LEADER…Evens David Miliband; 7/1 Alan Johnson; 8/1 Ed Balls; Ed Miliband; Alistair Darling; 12/1 Peter Mandelson; Harriet Harman.

Gordon Brown has said he will step down as party leader as Nick Clegg asks for talks between Labour and the Liberal Democrats.

In a statement outside Downing Street, Mr Brown said he had “no desire to stay in my position longer than needed” and would leave by the party conference in September. He said he will ask the Labour Party to begin the process for a leadership election but that he will not stand or intervene. The plan seems to be that this will make it easier for the Lib Dems to do a deal with the Lib Dems. It has repeatedly been said that Clegg finds real difficult to deal with the current PM.

Stan James make David Miliband their 5/6 favourite to be the next leader of the Labour Party following the announcement of the resignation of former Prime Minister Gordon Brown.

UK Political Specials ~ Next Labour Leader


5-6 David Miliband
7 Ed Miliband
8 Alan Johnson
8 Ed Balls
12 Harriet Harman
12 Alistair Darling
16 Andy Burnham
20 Jon Cruddas
25 Jack Straw
25 Peter Mandelson
66 Hilary Benn
80 John Denham
100 Tony Blair

William Hill….

DAVID MILIBAND IS NOW ODDS-ON FAVOURITE TO SUCCEED Gordon Brown as Labour Leader with William Hill who make him 4/7 and also offer 8/1 Darling;10/1 Johnson; 11/1 Ed Miliband; 12/1 Ed Balls; 14/1 Andy Burnham; 14/1 Harriet Harman; 16/1 Mandelson; 16/1 Jon Cruddas; 25/1 James Purnell; 25/1 Jack Straw; 33/1 Liam Byrne; 40/1 John Denham; 50/1 Yvette Cooper; 100/1 Tony Blair.

‘The political punters have been waiting for this race to come under orders for some time, and they have already begun placing substantial bets – we have taken a £2500 wager for David Miliband, which is unlikely to be the biggest we take. Up to £1million is likely to be gambled on this event, provided it doesn’t turn into a one horse race.’ said Hill’s spokesman Graham Sharpe.

HILLS ARE PAYING OUT TO PUNTERS WHO BET THAT GORDON BROWN WOULD ANNOUNCE HIS RESIGNATION BEFORE WEDNESDAY.

Whats Going on?
The most likely outcome is Tory/Lib-Dem coalition, now 5/6 with Hills who are 7/4 Tory minority govt and 7/2 Labour-Lib Dem coalition with William Hill. But frankly who knows?

YOU BET LIB DEMS WILL CHOOSE TORIES

WILLIAM HILL offer 5/6 that the ultimate outcome of the current inter-Party discussions will be a Conservative-Lib Dem coalition; 7/4 the Tories will go it alone as a minority government; 7/2 there will be a Labour-Lib Dem coalition.

‘Everything is up for grabs now, but the most likely outcome remains the Tory-Lib Dem tie-up’ said Hill’s spokesman Graham Sharpe.

William Hill…Outcome of current negotiations:
Lib/Lab coalition* 7/2
Lib/Con coalition 5/6
Con minority 7/4

* includes possible inclusion of other minor parties

Get £250 in Free Bets from Titan Bet and win your share of $100m dollars!!

It looks like a Hung Parliament, as I predicted I have to say! But what happens now is the big question and in political terms it could get pretty ugly. The Betting Exchanges are predicting that David Cameron will be the next PM.

Who Next?

Favourite in the betting on what happens next is that David Cameron will end up as Prime Minister in a minority government, currently a 67% chance (odds 1-2). Gordon Brown leading a minority government is at 17% (odds 5-1), while any other Prime Minister is on 12% (odds 7-1).

Betfair spokesman Mike Robb said: “The game is up for the Conservatives tonight. Yes they have won the most seats, as our markets have been forecasting for months, but the prospect of a Conservative majority is now all but over.

“The betting markets have an incredible record at predicting events at this stage of the day and our punters, who have bet millions of pounds on this election, say it’s a Hung Parliament.

“As to what happens next, punters are pointing to David Cameron leading a minority government as the most likely outcome. Given all that’s happened tonight, though, anything could happen!”

One thing is clear the Lib Dems will be gutted! It looks like they are still a minority party. A lib-Lab pact wont even form a majority so their only hope is a tie up with the Tories one would think.

The exit poll suggests the UK is on course for a hung parliament, with the Conservatives as the largest party. And an inquiry has been launched after chaos reigned at polling stations across the country when queuing voters were turned away from ballot boxes.

I think that word sums it up Chaos!

William Hill have Gordon Brown as 10/11 to go and 10/11 to stay as Labour leader.