Punter hopes Blair tans opposition

FEATURE
By Richard Warry
BBC News reporter

Who will tan who on election day?

If you believe the bookies the race for Downing Street is a foregone conclusion.

No bookmaker is prepared to offer even remotely generous odds on Tony Blair being prime minister come 6 May.

But for one punter it is not the size of Blair's smile that will count, but the shade of his cheeks.

The prime minister's complexion has attracted much attention during the current campaign.

The suggestion, hotly denied, is that he might just have resorted to fake tan to provide a healthy glow.

Election bets One man has placed £100,000 on Labour winning most Commons seats Martin Bell has bet £100 at 150/1 on anti-war candidate Reg Keys unseating Tony Blair in Sedgefield Ladbrokes offering 5,000/1 on Blair resigning on election day Justin Tomlinson, of Bracknell, Berkshire, has bet £50 at odds of 10,000/1 that he will become prime minister by the year 2028

One punter has been so impressed that he has struck a bet with bookmakers William Hill at 5/1 that come polling day Mr Blair will out-bronze even Veritas party leader, and king of the "just back from holiday" sheen, Robert Kilroy-Silk.

Graham Sharpe, a media spokesman for William Hill, is confident that they won't lose out on the one-off bet.

"Mr Blair seems to vary day by day from pasty-faced, to tango orange to deep umber," he said.

"At least Mr Kilroy-Silk is a consistently a Mediterranean mahogany.

"Tony Blair has got quite a lot to do, but it is not impossible that he could provide an upset on election day."

William Hill is also offering 3/1 for former Labour communications director Alastair Campbell to be arrested during the campaign.

Odds are shortening on another Prescott punch

Sadly, those keen to see John Prescott repeat his pugilistic performance of the 2001 campaign may have missed the chance to land the best odds.

In light of the Greenpeace invasion of the deputy prime minister's roof, William Hill has cut the odds on another Prescott punch from 10/1 to just 4/1.

Odds for the rather more important matters are less enticing for those looking to make a quick buck out of the democratic process.

Tony Blair has been an overwhelming favourite to secure a third term as prime minister since the campaign began.

But bookmakers Coral on Wednesday cut the odds on a Labour win even further to 40/1 on from 33/1 on.

We are seeing more interest in the Eurovision Song Contest Simon Clare, Coral

The Conservatives meanwhile are rated at no better than 11/1 to spring a surprise.

Coral spokesman Simon Clare said betting levels on the election had been disappointing, with turnover less than half that of the previous election in 2001.

"This has been one of the dullest, most negative election campaigns in history, and betting turnover is down 50% on 2001", he said.

"No-one can see past a Labour victory but their odds are so prohibitive that punters can't be bothered to bet.

"We are seeing more interest in the Eurovision Song Contest."