NIGEL Farage’s chances of becoming prime minister “are in free fall”, according to a leading bookmaker
William Hill has slashed the odds on the Reform UK leader walking into No 10 after his success in the Clacton by-election.
Farage triggered the by-election when he quit the Commons in an attempt to distract from questions over his finances.
He held the seat with a majority of 12,784 votes, ahead of his only major competitor, the novelty candidate Count Binface, with the major English parties boycotting the “stunt”.
But against his falling popularity, the odds on him becoming PM have been cut from 7/2 to 4/1.
Tory leader Kemi Badenoch is now the bookies’ favourite to succeed Andy Burnham with odds of 3/1, William Hill said.
Elsewhere, the odds on who will win the most seats at the next General Election favour Labour who are the 11/8 favourites with the Tories priced at 5/2.
Reform figures came out to defend Farage on Friday morning after he snubbed the results announcement in Clacton, saying he would be “demeaned and humiliated” by going to the event, where he would have stood next to a man pretending to be a bin from space.
It was also claimed he had security fears about attending, though Essex Police, which oversaw security for the event, said the force had a “full and robust policing operation in place around the Clacton by-election” and the decision to go was down to candidates and their teams.
And as loyalty to Farage appears strong, he is 6/4 to be replaced as Reform leader this year with Robert Jenrick the 9/4 favourite to take the reins, ahead of Zia Yusuf at 3/1.
Lee Phelps, a spokesperson for William Hill, said: “Nigel Farage may have won Clacton with room to spare, but his chances of becoming next prime minister are in free fall.
“Farage has drifted out to 4/1, with Kemi Badenoch the 3/1 favourite. Reform UK have also eased to 9/4 for most seats at the next election, with Labour the 11/8 favourites and the Conservatives 5/2.
“Count Binface’s tally of almost 10,000 votes was the result that really caught us out – breaking the 25% vote share threshold was a popular selection for our punters, with more than 40% of bets and over half the money staked. Paying out at 5/2 made it the biggest loser for us on the night.”
