Next Labour Deputy Leader

[slick]

Next Labour Deputy Leader

Win Only
Benn H 6/4
Johnson A 4/1
Cruddas J 9/2
Harman H 6/1
Hain P 8/1
Blears H 12/1
Jowell T 16/1
Clarke C 25/1
Others On Request

Odds Skybet

[kompressaur]

When does all this kick off anyone? is it a ballot or something equally political sounding? Are we just waiting on Blair to step down?

[kompressaur]

Blair to announce departure date
Tony Blair will "make an announcement" on his future as Labour leader on Thursday, Downing Street has confirmed.
Mr Blair will tell Cabinet colleagues of his intentions on Thursday morning, before making his plans public in a speech in his Sedgefield constituency.

His spokesman stressed Mr Blair would remain "focused" on the job of being prime minister until his successor is chosen by Labour in about seven weeks.

Chancellor Gordon Brown is the clear favourite to succeed Mr Blair.

Downing Street's announcement ends weeks of speculation over exactly when Mr Blair would go public with his retirement plans.

His decision to make his first public statement on the subject in Sedgefield follows a longstanding pledge to voters there that they would be the first to know about his future plans.

Mr Blair was mocked in the Commons on Wednesday by Conservative leader David Cameron for presiding over a "government of the living dead".

He accused the government of being in "paralysis," with key Blairite ministers either quitting or waiting to be sacked by Mr Brown.

Mr Blair countered that he would be concentrating on "policies for the economy and health, and education and law and order" during the seven weeks he is expected to stay in Downing Street while his Labour successor is chosen.

With a resignation announcement imminent, the Liberal Democrats have tabled a Parliamentary motion urging the Queen to dissolve parliament and call a general election.

Domestic issues

The prime minister's official spokesman stressed Mr Blair still had lots of work to do on domestic issues before he quits.

There were two policy review papers on the role of the state and on families and two white papers on planning and energy security yet to be published, he said.

And there would also be international matters to deal with in the run-up to this summer's G8 and EU summits.

The former Cabinet minister and current European Union Commissioner for Trade, Peter Mandelson, said he would support the next Labour leader and denied that Mr Blair's last weeks in office would be as a lame duck leader.

"'He's going of his own choice. He's doing it at a time which he thinks is good for the country, is good for the government."

Frantic activity

Mr Blair's announcement will trigger three days of frantic activity at Westminster, starting on Monday, as Labour leadership and deputy leadership hopefuls seek nominations from fellow MPs.

Mr Brown has already been nominated by more than half of the Parliamentary party and will almost certainly not face a Cabinet-level challenge for the leadership, after all of the likely runners refused to stand against him.

Left wing backbenchers John McDonnell and Michael Meacher are battling to gain the 44 nominations needed to get on to the ballot paper and ensure there is a contest.

Whoever has the least support will withdraw, giving the other a clear run.

Six deputy leadership hopefuls will also be battling for nominations to enter the race to replace John Prescott, who is due to stand down with Mr Blair.

bbc

[kompressaur]

[stereoman]

The list of everyone who wants a shot at being Deputy Leader is declared on Thursday. Alan Johnson is the first one to announce that he wants a go though.

Interesting article about 'What if Hilary Benn isn't on the ballot?' over at Political Betting: http://politicalbetting.com/index.ph...on-the-ballot/

Yesterday's Bettingzone Market Moves:

1555: Alan Johnson is the new favourite to be Gordon’s Brown’s Deputy PM according to bookie Paddy Power. The former postman is the 2/1 favourite from 7/2 having thrown his hat into the ring for deputy leadership with an estimated 70 backers.

Harriet Harman, having revealed backing from 60 fellow MPs, well over the required 45, has been backed into 3/1 second favourite from 7/1 late last week. Former favourite Hilary Benn remains in the running at 7/2 with George Galloway the 250/1 outsider.

Darren Haines, spokesman for Paddy Power, said: “The runners and riders are starting to emerge in earnest and, as their supporters go public, people are getting a definite idea on where they want to place their Deputy Leader bets. It’s certainly a more exciting contest for punters than the one-horse leadership race.”

Next Deputy PM, Paddy Power bet: 2/1 Alan Johnson, 3/1 Harriet Harman, 7/2 Hilary Benn, 5/1 Hazel Blears, 6/1 Peter Hain, 7/1 John Cruddas, 10/1 David Miliband, 16/1 Jack Straw, 33/1 Patricia Hewitt, 50/1 Margaret Beckett, 50/1 Charles Clarke, 66/1 David Blunkett, 250/1 George Galloway.

[stereoman]

Today's Bettingzone Market Moves:

1600: Hilary Benn has been backed from 13/8 to 5/4 favourite to win the race to become Deputy Labour Leader with William Hill.

"Punters are backing Benn big - his views are obviously chiming with their thinking," reckoned Hill's spokesman Graham Sharpe.

"He is clocking up plenty of support - including one bet of £750 struck in the Oxford area."

=============

Political Betting suggests Gordon Brown probably wants Harriet Harman as deputy leader.

http://politicalbetting.com/index.ph...avour-a-woman/

[lazysunbather]

interesting when are the results going to be announced.

[stereoman]

Sunday 24th June but news could be leaked out before then.

'Benn popular with local Labour parties' says BBC News.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk_politics/6712781.stm

[lazysunbather]

Damn I seem to have missed the gravy train, was waiting to put todays football winnings on Benn.

[lazysunbather]

Oh it's fine Willhill still has it :gett1n

[lazysunbather]

The market has fluctuated quite a bit H.Benn is now 3rd favourite at 7's on 365bet what happened? Maybe Johnson is more of a cool customer.