Bookies in Britain have slashed the odds on Prime Minster Tony Blair stepping down before the next general election.
On Thursday, the Prime Minister was 14-1 to stand down before the poll which is expected in 12 months. But as the days passed the odds narrowed with William Hill now offering just 13-8. However they are also offering 4-9 on him staying on.
The odds tumbled further today after reports that when deputy prime minister Mr John Prescott and Chancellor Mr Gordon Brown had a private meeting last week in which they discussed the Labour Party succession.
The 90-minute meeting took place in the back of a ministerial Jaguar in the car park of the Loch Fyne Oyster Bar in Argyll last Sunday, according to Scotland's Sunday Heraldnewspaper.
They talked about a "peaceful succession" and how Mr Prescott could use his influence to ensure a contest united the party, sources close to the deputy prime minister told the paper.
Mr Prescott is said to want a seamless transfer of power without is a virtual re-run of the dignified leadership contest when Mr Blair took charge following Mr John Smith's death.
Details of the meeting came amid re-emerging claims that Mr Brown is preparing to take charge.
The Prime Minister will stay on at least until elections are held in Iraq next January, an anonymous source told The Observer.
And speculation intensified yesterday when Mr Prescott told The Timesthat Cabinet colleagues are jockeying for position in expectation of a leadership contest.
Today a
Sunday Times/YouGov poll showed 46 per cent of resopndents saying Mr Blair should resign before the next general election.