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Bookmakers William Hill have opened a book on who will be the first high-profile casualty from Gordon Brown's newly-revealed Cabinet.

And they've installed Jacqui Smith, Britain's first female Home Secretary, as their 7/4 favourite to be the first to leave the job.

Hills make Defence Secretary Des Browne 3/1 second favourite, with Peter Hain (Pensions) 4/1 third favourite ahead of 5/1 chance Alan Johnson (Health), 6/1 David Miliband (Foreign Secretary), 7/1 Alistair Darling (Chancellor) and 10/1 Jack Straw (Justice).

"The Premiership sack-race is now an established and popular betting market in football, but this is the first time any bookmaker has introduced something similar for the political betting market," said Hill's spokesman Graham Sharpe.

"We anticipate plenty of betting interest amongst political punters who should love the chance to bet on bad news for politicians."

Bettingzone