Bookies make Blair landslide a dead cert

Labour is poised for victory today with bookies offering record short odds on the outcome.

Labour is poised for victory today with bookies offering record short odds on the outcome.

Yesterday William Hill slashed the odds on a Labour win to 1/200 - meaning punters would have to bet £200 to win £1. Labour, which has 418 seats in the Commons, is 20/1 to win more than 501 seats, according to the bookmaker.

Ladbrokes has already paid out £300,000 after it decided to stop bets at the weekend. While the outcome may already be settled for bookmakers, there is still plenty of betting on how large the majority could be.

William Hill's spokesman said: "Despite the result being a foregone conclusion in many people's eyes, we have still done a lively business on all aspects of the election. A closer contest would probably have doubled the turnover, but with some punters looking to buy money there is still plenty at stake." - (PA)

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