- Title: Theresa May’s Tories odds on favourites to sweep election
- Date: 18th April 2017
- Summary: LONDON, ENGLAND, UK (APRIL 18, 2017) (REUTERS) VARIOUS OF JESSICA BRIDGE, LADBROKES BOOKMAKERS SPOKESWOMAN WRITING LATEST ODDS ON THE CHALKBOARD FOR WHICH PARTY WILL WIN THE MOST SEATS LADBROKES SIGN ON BOARD / HOUSES OF PARLIAMENT IN BACKGROUND (SOUNDBITE) (England) LADBROKES BOOKMAKERS SPOKESWOMAN, JESSICA BRIDGE SAYING: "Well obviously Theresa May has called a snap general election and Christmas has come early frankly for the bookies, we love to get stuck into a political betting market like this. And it is a very lop-sided one though, I must say. The Tories are 1/10 favourites, that means they are heavy odds on, so if you wanted to have a bet right here, right now, you would need to stake ten pounds to win just one in return, that is how certain the odds are that Theresa May and the Tories will emerge victorious on June 8." CHALKBOARD WITH LATEST ODDS VARIOUS OF ODDS OF 1/5 FOR LABOUR LEADER JEREMY CORBYN TO BE REPLACED BY THE END OF THE YEAR (SOUNDBITE) (England) LADBROKES BOOKMAKERS SPOKESWOMAN, JESSICA BRIDGE SAYING: "If you are a Corbyn fan this isn't good news - the general election. Time's ticking and it is now 1/5, those odds have been cut today, so it is highly likely that Corbyn will be replaced as leader this year. It is effectively a domino effect from the Tories being so sure to get the most seats. The Tories are also the same price one to five to get the majority so the two go hand-in-hand and Corbyn's tenure as Labour leader is really....it's under pressure anyway right now, let alone when the result comes in by June ninth, so by the end of the year we think he will be out of a job and that the Labour Party will be looking for a new leader." ODDS WRITTEN ON CHALKBOARD (SOUNDBITE) (England) LADBROKES BOOKMAKERS SPOKESWOMAN, JESSICA BRIDGE SAYING: "I would be telling fibs if I said it was going to be as exciting as it was two years ago in 2015, because that was a much more wide open contest. This is home and hosed as far as the odds are concerned really and Theresa May looks like she has got this one in the bag so we reckon about 15-20 million (pounds) will be gambled on this across the UK bookmaking industry and that is down compared to two years ago, but this is still going to be a really fun market because if anything it is going to be between Labour and the Lib Dems as to who can come in that second spot right now." VARIOUS OF MEDIA OUTSIDE HOUSES OF PARLIAMENT VARIOUS OF BIG BEN CLOCK TOWER
- Embargoed: 2nd May 2017 17:29
- Keywords: Theresa May Britain election Brexit betting bookmakers Ladbrokes
- Location: LONDON, ENGLAND, UNITED KINGDOM
- City: LONDON, ENGLAND, UNITED KINGDOM
- Country: United Kingdom
- Topics: Government/Politics,Elections/Voting
- Reuters ID: LVA0016CXFZ2F
- Aspect Ratio: 16:9
- Story Text: Britons jumped straight into one of their favourite pastimes on Tuesday (April 18) by laying bets on who would win the snap general election, just minutes after Prime Minister Theresa May announced she was calling one for June 8.
"Christmas has come early frankly for the bookies, we love to get stuck into a political betting market like this. It is a very lop-sided one though, I must say," said Jessica Bridge, spokeswoman for bookmakers Ladbrokes.
May's Conservative Party (known as the Tories) are set to do well in the election, the bookies believe, with Ladbrokes putting them at 1/10 odds on favourites. Conversely the opposition Labour party, which is struggling under Jeremy Corbyn's leadership, has been given odds of 7/1 to win the most seats.
Ladbrokes added Corbyn's job was it risk, as they set odds of 1/5 for Corbyn to be replaced by the end of the year.
"So by the end of the year we think he will be out of a job and that the Labour Party will be looking for a new leader," Bridge added.
Whilst May might be cheered by being odds-on favourite to win the election, bookies are now focusing on who will come second to add some excitement for punters over the coming weeks.
May later returned to Downing Street after meeting the 1922 Committee of Conservative lawmakers, local media reported. - Copyright Holder: REUTERS
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