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Brown's odds of remaining leader drop overnight

25/07/2008

Gordon Brown's chances of remaining Labour leader have dropped overnight, according to bookmaker William Hill. He is now odds-on not to lead the party into the next election.

The vertiginous drop in Mr Brown's chances of remaining in his position follows Labour's disastrous result in last night's Glasgow East by-election in which they lost the seat to the Scottish National party (SNP).

Mr Brown is now 4/6 to not lead his party into the next election. He's 5/6 to be gone by the end of the year and 10/1 to lose his seat at the next general election.

The fortunes of those who might replace him remain temperamental. Jack Straw has slid into first place, his odds having been cut from 8/1 to 4/1. David Miliband's chances have dropped significantly from 2/1 to 9/2.

Tellingly, the only possible comparison with current odds on a Tory victory at the next election is Tony Blair in 1997. The Conservatives are now 1/4 favourites to win the next election.

"This has to be the final nail in the Labour coffin and the odds suggest that Gordon Brown is living on borrowed time," said William Hill spokesman Rupert Adams.