Sadly William Hill’s 6/1 price is no more

Over the past thirty-six hours dozens of PB users have been putting as much cash as they can on Jack Straw as next Chancellor at what appeared to be the the very generous price of 6/1.

For clearly the leader of the house and the man who has been both home and foreign secretaries under Blair is going to be rewarded with a plum position if and when Brown takes over. For the announcement yesterday that he is to be Brown’s campaign manager is playing a big part in the chancellor’s “foregone conclusion” strategy.

We might all be wrong but surely the one major position that Straw has not held is the one he’ll be offered when all the changes take place.

Whatever this was much better than a 6/1 shot and dozen of PBC punters have been piling on. Alas the price has been changed and now Hills make Straw the 5/2 favourite.

Hills, who have slashed Brown’s leadership odds from 1/12 to 1/20, make Ed Balls and Alistair Darling 4/1 joint second favourite to become the next Chancellor and also offer; 8/1 Des Browne; 10/1 David Miliband; 14/1 Hilary Benn.

Mike Smithson