Shadow Chancellor Mr Michael Portillo quickly emerged as overwhelming favourite to succeed Mr William Hague as leader of Britain's Conservative Party today, bookmakers William Hill said.
|
|
Mr Michael Portillo,
Shadow Chancellor |
Hill installed Mr Portillo as 11-10 favourite to succeed Mr Hague, who announced his resignation after losing the general election to Labour in another humiliating defeat for the Tories.
Second most likely to take over at the helm was defence spokesman Mr Iain Duncan Smith at 52, followed by Mr Kenneth Clarke at 4-1 and shadow Home Secretary Ms Ann Widdecombe at 6-1.
Whoever takes over, things look decidedly gloomy for the Conservatives over the longer term.
The bookmaker cut the odds of the Liberal Democrats winning more seats than them at the next general election to 20-1 from 33-1.
The Tories are being offered at 3-1 to win the next poll with the LibDems the rank outsiders at 500-1.
2005 was 4-7 favourite to be the year of the next general election.
PA