𝓤𝓷𝓲𝓽𝓮𝓭 𝓝𝓮𝔀𝓼

A new contender has emerged to replace Keir Starmer as Labour leader and Prime Minister. Bookmakers have seen a surge in betting as punters become convinced the Prime Minister has no chance of staying in his job all the way to the next general election. And they are placing bets on who they think will replace him, following the ongoing row over Peter Mandelson, the new controversy over ex-Labour peer Matthew Doyle, the February 26 by-election in Gorton and Denton and local elections in May, when Labour is bracing for huge losses.

Angela Rayner, the former Deputy Prime Minister, is the favourite to become the new leader with odds of 2/1. But the new figure that punters have started to bet on is Bridget Phillispon, the Education Secretary. She grew up in a working class family in Gateshead, in the north east, and went on to study at Oxford. She puts her academic success down to attending St Robert of Newminster Catholic School, a state school in Washington, near Sunderland, and said her goal is to try to ensure every child has the same opportunities. She appeared as an extra children’s TV programme Byker Grove.

Website Oddschecker, which provides odds from more than 25 bookmakers, says the odds offered by bookies for Mrs Phillipson becoming leader are now 20/1. Although she remains behind other contenders, interest in her is growing.

Oddschecker spokesman Chris Rogers stated: “The next Labour leader betting market has been immensely popular in recent weeks. Punters have shown strong support for one candidate in particular this afternoon.

“Bridget Phillipson is now 20/1, cut from 70/1 to succeed Keir Starmer as leader of the Labour party.

“The Secretary of State for Education received 73% of the backing over the last hour making her the most popular choice ahead of the likes of Ed Miliband (14%) and the bookmaker’s favourite, Angela Rayner (2/1).”

Punters can get odds of 4/1 on Wes Streeting and 6/1 on Ed Miliband, while the odds on Shabana Mahmood are 8/1, and on Andy Burnham are 12/1.

The latest scandal causing trouble for the Prime Minister involves his former communications director Matthew Doyle, who was given a life peerage in 2025 despite Doyle’s connections to convicted sex offender Sean Morton. Lord Doyle campaigned for Morton, a former Labour councillor, after Morton was charged with indecent images of children offences. He has apologised and said Morton insisted at the time that he was innocent, although Morton later admitted the charges.

Sir Keir has told the Commons that Doyle had not given a full account of his actions. The whip, Starmer added, was removed on as a result.