Angela Rayner dealt huge leadership blow minutes into Starmer's speech
Odds have improved for a Labour colleague of Rayner's to become the next PM.
Andy Burnham is the new favourite to be the next Prime Minister according to bookies, dashing Angela Rayner's ambitions just moments into what's seen as Prime Minister Keir Starmer's make-or-break speech. The Mayor of Greater Manchester now has odds of 2/1, whilst Ms Rayner has drifted to 10/3 from 9/4, according to William Hill.
Ms Rayner had been favourite to assume the role next but has drifted over the course of the weekend but Burnham has shortened from 7/2. Wes Streeting follows in the market, with the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care unchanged at 5/1, just ahead of Reform leader Nigel Farage at 11/2.
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Spokesperson for William Hill, Lee Phelps, said: “Andy Burnham has emerged as the new favourite to become the next UK Prime Minister, with the Greater Manchester Mayor now priced at 2/1 following significant support in the market.
“Angela Rayner had previously headed the betting but has drifted over the weekend from 9/4 to 10/3, while reportedly giving her backing to Burnham to become leader, which has seen him steadily shorten from 7/2 into favouritism.
“Aside from the top two in the market, Wes Streeting remains unchanged at 5/1 just ahead of Reform UK leader Nigel Farage at 11/2.”
Coral also cut Mr Burnham’s odds to 9-4 (from 11-4) after seeing strong support in the market this morning, with Ms Rayner at 3-1.
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Coral spokesman John Hill said: “Punters are convinced that Labour will find a way to get Andy Burnham back into Parliament and that he will then replace Sir Keir Starmer as the next leader of the party.
“This week could be make-or-break for the Prime Minister, with our odds indicating it will be the end of the road for him in Number 10."
Ladbrokes also has Mr Burnham at 9/4, with Ms Rayner at 7/2.
In a 1,000-word statement issued on Sunday, Ms Rayner urged her party to be "unafraid to promote new forms of public, community and cooperative ownership across the board".
She warned: "We are in danger of becoming a party of the well-off, not working people.
"What we are doing isn't working, and it needs to change. This may be our last chance."
Sir Keir pledged on Monday to prove the “doubters” in his own party and among the electorate as a whole wrong as he tries to fight off demands to step down after devastating local election results for his Labour Party.
The PM argued that he will “face up to the big challenges” and restore “hope” to the country. That includes getting closer to the European Union and “putting Britain at the heart of Europe,” a decade after the UK voted to leave the EU.
During a speech in London Sir Keir said: “I know I have my doubters and I know I need to prove them wrong, and I will,"
He vowed to prove to millions of people “tired of a status quo that has failed them” that the government is on their side.
He said Labour is in “a battle for the soul of our nation,” and the UK will go down “a dark path” if Reform UK, the anti-immigration party led by Nigel Farage, comes to power.
