SBC News Voice of the Sports Betting Industry
William Hill recorded a substantial backing for Leicester West MP Elizabeth ‘Liz’ Kendall to become the Labour Party’s next leader.
Early UK betting markets on the Labour leadership, had not marked Kendall as a main contender for leadership, with bookmakers pointing to a three horserace between Chuka Umunna, Andy Burnham and Yvette Cooper.
Yesterday William Hill announced that Kendall’s had been backed from opening odds of 10/1, down to 5/4 with William Hill to become the next Labour leader, while favourite Andy Burnham’s odds have lengthened from 4/6 out to 11/10 – and Hills predict that Ms Kendall could well be the clear favourite by the weekend.
‘69% of the bets we have taken on the market during this week have been for Liz Kendall and if that trend continues she will be favourite within days’ said William Hill PR spokesman Graham Sharpe.
The only other seriously backed contender for the role is Yvette Cooper, , but since she confirmed her candidacy to succeed Ed Miliband as Leader, Cooper odds have doubled from 5/2 at one point out to 5/1 now. Early market favourite Streatham (London) MP and Shadow Business Secretary Chuka Umunna has pulled out of the leadership race, stating he had no interest in pursuing party leadership
William Hill Labour Leadership market odds – 11/10 Andy Burnham; 5/4 Liz Kendall; 5/1 Yvette Cooper; 33/1 Mary Creagh.
