Alistair Darling "odds on" to be gone by end of year.

From William Hill:





SORRY, DARLING - YOU'RE OUT!

ALISTAIR DARLING is quoted at 9/4 by William Hill still to be Chancellor on the last day of this year - but is an odds-on shot at 1/3 to have lost the job by then.

'Mr Darling's recent comments cannot have enhanced his prospects of holding on to his current position - and punters have rushed to back him to be chopped as chancellor' said Hill's spokesman Graham Sharpe.

And Hills don't fancy his chance of becoming the next Labour leader, offering him at 100/1 to do so. They make David Milliband 2/1 favourite to succeed Gordon Brown and also offer 4/1 Jack Straw; 5/1 Alan Johnson; 7/1 Harriet Harman; 8/1 Jon Cruddas.

LABOUR are now 3/1 with William Hill - the longest odds they have been since Tony Blair won them power - to win the next General Election. The Conservatives are 2/9 favourites - their shortest odds since losing power - with Hills making the Lib Dems 100/1.