Conservatives now 1/6 favourites to win most seats.

From William Hill:

WILLIAM HILL have slashed the Conservatives from 1/4 to 1/6 favourites to win the most seats at the next General Election - making them the hottest favourites they have been since Margaret Thatcher stood down.

Labour's odds have been lengthened from 11/4 to 7/2, with the Lib Dems offered at 100/1.

'Punters are shovelling cash on the Tories at any price we put up at the moment - but we have barely seen a bet of any size for Labour this year' said Hill's spokesman Graham Sharpe.

Hills offer 4/9 that the Tories will win with a clear overall majority, 9/4 that the Election produces a Hung Parliament and 7/1 that Labour win with an overall majority.

And Hills now believe that it is a virtual certainty that Gordon Brown won't risk a General Election until the last moment, so have cut the odds for the next poll to take place in 2010 from 1/3 to 2/9.

They also offer 9/2 that it will be held between July and December this year and 8/1 in or before June 2009.

Gordon Brown is now odds-on to be the first of the three current Party Leaders to stand down - Hills make him a 4/7 chance to be the first to go, with Nick Clegg at 5/2 and David Cameron 9/2.

Brown is 8/11 to cease to be PM during 2010; 5/2 during 2009.

Hills make him 4/11 to lead his Party into the next General Election, 2/1 not to