Bookies lengthen the odds on Brown

GORDON BROWN is the bookmakers’ hot favourite to take over from Tony Blair as prime minister — but he should be worried that his odds have lengthened, bookies have said.

Ever since the Labour Party swept back to office under Blair in 1997, finance minister Brown has been the favourite to succeed him in a smooth handover.

But other candidates have entered the frame from nowhere and could well spoil the long-mooted straightforward Brown coronation — and in politics, the front runners should always be looking worryingly over their shoulders, bookmakers said.

Ladbrokes quote Chancellor of the Exchequer Brown as the 2/7 favourite to be the next Labour leader, Education Secretary Alan Johnson at 5/1, Home Secretary John Reid at 8/1 and Environment Secretary David Miliband at 20/1.

William Hill have Brown at 1/5, Johnson at 6/1, Reid at 8/1 and Miliband at 12/1, while Paddy Power price Brown at 2/9, with the other three at the same odds.

“Brown was 1/10 in 1997 and is now 1/5,” William Hill spokesman Graham Sharpe said.

“His price has doubled and he’s become almost backable — if I were him I’d be worried about that.”

Paddy Power quote Blair ceasing to be prime minister in May 2007 at 11/8 favourite, June 2007 at 3/1 second favourite and April 2007 at 6/1.