Smith odds on to lose job
By Laura Miller
Jacqui Smith is odds-on favourite to be sacked from her post as home secretary by the end of the year, according to bookies William Hill.
The beleaguered Ms Smith, who is currently embroiled in two expenses scandals over her second home and her claims for porn films ordered by her husband, is now a good bet to join Britain’s two million unemployed on or before 31 st December.
‘She is becoming so accident prone that her extended tenure of the job must now be in severe doubt’ said Hill’s spokesman Graham Sharpe.
Hill’s are currently offering 4/6 that the home secretary will be axed before the end of the year, against 11/10 that she will still be in her position on the final day of 2009.
The bookies also have Tony McNulty odds-on to lose his seat at the next general election, following the controversy over his housing expenses claim.
They make the Conservatives 1/2 favourites to take Mr McNulty’s Harrow East constituency, with the Lib Dems at 16/1.
The odds on McNulty keeping his seat are currently at 13/8.
‘The row over Mr McNulty’s housing expenses claim is unlikely to have improved his standing in his local constituency and we believe he will find it difficult to win the seat next time’ said Hill’s spokesman Graham Sharpe.
Hills are also offering 5/1 that McNulty will be ordered to pay back any of his housing expenses – longer odds than the 4/1 they are offering about Sir Fred Goodwin doing likewise with his pension
