"Anyone Else" 5/4 to lead Labour into General Election

From William Hill:

5/4 LABOUR LEADER TO BE 'ANYONE ELSE' AT GENERAL ELECTION

WITH A POLL revealing that a majority of voters believe that anyone other than Gordon Brown would do a better job as Labour Leader, bookmakers William Hill are offering odds of 5/4 that anyone other than Brown leads the Party into the forthcoming General Election.

'A lot of punters believe that anyone other than Brown will become Labour Leader before the General Election and three quarters of the bets we have taken in that market are for him to be out of office by then' said Hill's spokesman Graham Sharpe.

WILLIAM HILL have also cut their odds for Harriet Harman to succeed Gordon Brown from 8/1 to 7/1 joint second favourite after she was backed to become the next Labour leader as rumours spread that she has been canvassing party members to assess her own standing in the race to take over when Brown eventually quits.

LATEST WILLIAM HILL ODDS TO SUCCEED GORDON BROWN AS LABOUR LEADER.....6/4 Alan Johnson; 7/1 Harriet Harman; David Miliband; 8/1Peter Mandelson; 10/1 Ed Miliband; 12/1 Cruddas; Purnell; 16/1 Balls, Burnham, Straw.

William Hill - Brown 8/1 to go to IMF for loan before GE.

William Hill are offering odds of 8/1 that the Government will have to go to the IMF for a loan before the General Election takes place. 'Having to go cap in hand to the IMF would be the ultimate humiliation for Messrs Brown and Darling, but there are plenty of punters prepared to bet that it will happen.Political betting has become so popular that we are already predicting a £20m+ betting turnover on the outcome of the next General Election' said Hill's spokesman Graham Sharpe.

William Hill - Sir Fred Goodwin to keep his wad.

From William Hill:

WILLIAM HILL have lengthened their odds about Sir Fred Goodwin handing bank any of his controversial pension pot from 3/1 to 4/1.

'Despite initial thoughts that he may be shamed into handing at least some of the money back it now appears that he is more adamant than ever that he will do no such thing' said Hill's spokesman Graham Sharpe.

Hills are 1/7 that Sir Fred refuses to pay back any of the pension whatsoever before the end of 2009.

Jelly now 2/1 to be used in next Minister attack.

From William Hill:

FOLLOWING the 'green custard' attack on Peter Mandelson, Jelly has emerged as the popular dessert most likely to be next aimed at a Ministerial target, say bookmakers William Hill, who have slashed the odds about that happening from 20/1 to 2/1 favourite.

"After taking several bets for Jelly to be utilised in the next dessert incident directed towards a Minister, we realised just what an adaptable and effective material it is and slashed the odds accordingly. "We will pay out regardless of the flavour used. The bets we have taken are not just for trifling amounts" said Hill's spokesman Graham Sharpe

When Hills initially opened a book on which popular dessert will next be thrown over any British government minister, they installed Spotted Dick as their 3/1 favourite, but have now lengthened the odds about this perennially popular pud to 5/1.

"British democracy has regularly witnessed examples of harmless substances being directed at controversial politicians to give them their just desserts in the past, and as long as protesters utilise harmless foodstuffs it is only politicians' dignity which is threatened" added Sharpe.

Hills make Ice Cream their 6/1 third favourite to be the next dessert aimed at a top politician during 2009, and also offer 7/1 Rhubarb Fool ;Apple Pie; and Angel Delight; 8/1 Rice Pudding; 9/1 Bread and Butter Pudding; 10/1Custard again;10/1 Sherry Trifle; 12/1 Summer Pudding, 14/1 Semolina.

"If both jelly and, say, ice-cream should be used, dead-heat rules will apply" said Sharpe.

FOLLOWING Mr Mandelson's close encounter with the green custard, William Hill have opened a book on who will be the next Cabinet Minister to be targeted by pud protesters, and make Gordon Brown 3/1 favourite, with Peter Mandelson a 6/1 chance to suffer again before any other Minister does so.

"After the Mandelson custard ambush, Ministers may face an outbreak of pudding flinging - which will at least make a change from mud and insults."

Next Minister to be struck by dessert: 3/1 Gordon Brown; 4/1 Jacqui Smith; 5/1 Harriet Harman; 6/1 Mandelson; 8/1 A Johnson; 9/1 D Miliband; 10/1 E Miliband; 12/1 Y Cooper (Others on request).

I'd pay good money to see Harriet Harman or Jacqui Smith hit with an Asda's lemon meringue (preferably still in the delivery truck).

Tony Blair 33/1 to appear on Strictly Come Dancing 2009.

From William Hill:

Bookies William Hill have crowned Strictly Come Dancing 2008 as the most popular in the competitions history with almost double the number of bets placed in 2008 compared to 2007. Hills are 6/4 that this is Bruce Forysth's last dance and have cut the price of Tony Blair taking part in 2009 from 100/1 to 33/1 following a run of bets for the former PM.

"This years show has been by far the busiest and the producers owe John Sergeant a bottle of champers. But next year could be a different story as the viewing figures could take a battering if Brucie's decides to hang up his boots and dare I say it surly Tony Blair will be a ratings disaster," said Hill's spokesman Rupert Adams.

Will Bruce Forysth Present Strictly In 2009?: 1/2 No, 6/4 Yes

William Hill odds - To Appear on Strictly Come Dancing 2009: 7/4 Peter Mandleson, 11/8 Kelly Brooke, 3/1 Anthea Turner, 3/1 Josh Lewsey, 5/1 Richard Madeley, 6/1 Ben Shephard, 6/1 Sharon Davis, 6/1 Chris Eubank, 8/1 Judy Finnigan, 8/1 Rebecca Addlington, 10/1 Penny Smith, 10/1 Paul Gascoigne, 10/1 Robbie Williams, 12/1 Adam Bolton, 14/1 Cliff Richard, 25/1 Bruce Forsyth, 33/1 Tony Blair, 100/1 Amy Winehouse, 500/1 Prince Harry.

William Hill How Many Of The Strictly Judges Will Be Sacked Before Next Season?: 2/7 None, 5/1 One, 5/1 Two, 16/1 Three, 50/1 All four

William Hill - Conservatives 25/1 to be in power for over fifteen years.

From William Hill:

CONSERVATIVES 25/1 TO TAKE POWER FOR OVER FIFTEEN YEARS

DESPITE GORDON BROWN'S belief that he can maintain his role as Prime Minister and that Labour can hold on to power, William Hill have opened a book on how long the Conservatives will be in power from the day of the next Election - and offer 25/1 that they will win and remain in government for over 15 years.

Hills also offer 14/1 that the Tories will govern for between 10 years 1 day and 15 years; 7/2 between 5 years 1 day and 10 years; Evens for up to five years. 'The Conservatives are such hot favourites to win the next General Election that we have opened a book on how long they will remain in power once they take over' said Hill's spokesman Graham Sharpe.

The Tories are 2/7 favourites to win the next Election with Hills, while Labour are offered at 5/2.

WILLIAM HILL have cut their odds for Mr Brown to announce his resignation during his Party Conference speech next week from 66/1 to 33/1.

THE LAST BET William Hill took for Gordon Brown to lead Labour into the next General Election was a £35 wager on August 28. 'Since then all the money has been for Mr Brown no longer to be Labour leader when the next Election takes place' said Hill's spokesman Sharpe. Hills now offer 4/7 that he WILL lead them into the next General Election and 5/4 that he will not.

William Hill have slashed their odds for Gordon Brown to be out of office by the end of the year from 7/4 to 6/4. 'There is absolutely no serious money at all for Mr Brown to survive beyond this year' said Hill's spokesman Graham Sharpe. He is 1/2 to do so, having once been 1/10.

David Miliband has been cut from 2/1to 6/4 favourite to succeed Brown as PM and Hills also offer 6/1 Jack Straw; 6/1 Harriet Harman; 7/1 Jon Cruddas; 10/1 John Denman; Alan Johnson; James Purnell. 14/1 Ed Balls; 33 Charles Clarke.

WILLIAM HILL- Brown still PM on Jan 1, 2009 - 4/9 YES; 13/8 NO; Labour Leadership contest to take place in 2008: 11/8 YES; 8/15 NO.

Hills make Labour 3/1 to win the Glenrothes by-election for which the SNP are 2/9 favourites.
Hills are now offering 11/8 that there will be a Leadership election this year.

William Hill are offering odds of 4/7 that the Conservatives will increase their number of seats - currently 198 - to 350 or more at the next General Election, while Labour are 5/6 to end up with 209 or fewer seats.

BARACK OBAMA has been cut from 4/6 to 4/7 to win the US Election with William Hill who have lengthened John McCain from 5/4 to 11/8. 'The Palin factor has slowed down and there has been increasing recent support for Obama whose odds had drifted to their longest since he became the candidate.' said Hill's spokesman Graham Sharpe.

Sarah Palin is 6/1 favourite to be the first female President of the USA.

From William Hill:

Sarah favourite to be 1st female president as:
PALIN FACTOR SHORTENS McCAIN PRESIDENTIAL ODDS

JOHN McCain's odds have shortened from 2/1 to 6/4 to win the US Presidential Election since he appointed Sarah Palin to be his running mate, say bookmakers William Hill, who have lengethened Barack Obama's odds from 4/11 to 1/2.

'Barack is still favourite but the Palin factor has impacted on support for McCain and since her appointment, 75% of the bets we have taken have been for him.' said Hill's spokesman Graham Sharpe.

WILLIAM HILL have installed Sarah Palin as 6/1 favourite to be the first female President of the USA, overtaking former favourite Hillary Clinton, who is now offered at 7/1. 'Sarah's appointment has sparked a minor attack of punter Palin-mania and we have had to cut the odds for her to win the 2012 Election and also to become the first female President' said Hill's spokesman Graham Sharpe.

SARAH SPECIALS.....4/1 Ever to become President; 20/1To become President in 2012 (was 33/1); 6/1 To become first female President.

WILLIAM HILL - TO be first female President ; 6/1 Palin; 7/1 Clinton; 14/1 Chelsea Clinton; 20/1Kathleen Sebelius; 25/1 Condoleeza Rice. Others on request.

Hills have now lengthened their odds about Sarah Palin standing down as John McCain's running mate from 8/1 to 14/1 - 'The early crisis seems to have been dispelled' said Hill's spokesman Graham Sharpe.

STATE ELECTIONS.....William Hill have opened a book on which Party will win various vital states and offer:

Colorado 8/11 Dem Evens Rep
Florida; 5/4 Dems; 4/7 Reps
Michigan; 4/9 Dem; 13/8 Rep
Montana: 7/4 dEM; 2/5 Rep;
Nevada; 5/6 Dem; 5/6 Rep
New Hants 8/13 Dem; 6/5 Rep
N Carolina; 9/4 Dem 1/3 Rep
Ohio; 4/6 Dem; 11/10 Rep
Pennsylvania; 1/4 Dem; 11/4 Rep
Virginia; 5/6 Dem; 5/6 Rep

William Hill offer 1,000,000/1 that the world will end on Sept 10, 2008 (CERN Experiment).

Earlier today I sent the following email to Graham Sharpe, William Hill's Media Relations Director:

Graham,

There has been a great deal of speculation as to whether the CERN test on September the 10th will cause mini Black Holes to form, which could destroy the Earth. Are William Hill giving odds on whether the world will end next Wednesday?

And here is Graham's reply:

Steve - there is only one bet on which we permit punters to name their own odds - and this is it! We are 'officially' offering 1,000,000/1 that the world will end on Sept 10, 2008 as a result of this test - but anyone who wants longer odds - or, even, shorter (and we have laid as short as even money about the world ending, in the past), can have whatever price they want. However, I do believe that if the bet comes up, people will be paid out. There must be bookmakers in Heaven, where the only bets laid will be winners - but they will be staffed by people who were bookies in life - so that they are effectively spending eternity in a Hell where the bookie never wins!

gs

Obviously collection could be a bit tricky, but 1,000,000/1 are good odds.