Have the Irish fired the starting gun in the EU Presidency race?
Can Tony live up to his 6/4 favourite status?
Several bookmakers have dipped their toes into the water with markets on over who will be the first permanent President of the European Council but so far not many punters have been tempted.
What’s the point of locking up your stake in bets on something that might not come about? For whether there’ll be such a role has always been dependent on the Lisbon treaty being ratified by all the EU members.
If the Irish vote have voted YES today (results tomorrow) then the whole thing becomes closer to reality and we can start speculating over who’ll get the plum job.
How strong are Blair’s chances? Could it be that Mr. Brown’s final months in Downing Street will be dominated by having to work with the man he put all his endeavours into replacing?
William Hill announced this afternoon that Blair was the 6/4 favourite. I have no idea whether that is a good bet. I suggest waiting until, if indeed that is what happens, Lisbon is ratified.