Bookmakers said Thursday they had taken a flurry of bizarre bets as British Prime Minister Tony Blair confirmed his departure plans as premier and Labour Party leader.
LONDON: Bookmakers said Thursday they had taken a flurry of bizarre bets as British Prime Minister Tony Blair confirmed his departure plans as premier and Labour Party leader.
Bets have been put on topics ranging from the title of his memoirs to which world leader will be the first to publicly praise him, said betting giant Paddy Power.
Odds of 4/1 make 'In My Own Words' the favourite title, followed by 'Hard Labour' (6/1) and 'My Legacy' (8/1).
More outside bets are on the less likely 'The Blair Rich Project', 'No Cash, No Honours!' and 'Yo, Blair!', the last a reference to US President George W. Bush remarks at last year's G8 summit in Saint Petersburg.
Bush is favourite to lead the praise, followed by Prime Minister John Howard of Australia, Stephen Harper of Canada and Chancellor Angela Merkel of Germany.
Longer odds are on Iran's Ayatollah Ali Khamenei and Osama bin Laden both at a distinctly ungenerous 33/1.
Paddy Power said it is offering odds on the colour of Blair's tie when he makes the announcment. Unsurprisingly for the Red Rose party, red is odds on favourite at 2/1.
As for what he might do next, a speaking tour of the United States is at 2/1, followed by publishing his memoirs and journalism.
But there are also odds on him going on tour with Ugly Rumours, the band he fronted as a long-haired student at Oxford University in his undergraduate days, and running the London Marathon.
There are even odds on him becoming the next manager of his favourite English Premiership football team, Newcastle United, who are currently managerless after Glenn Roeder's departure earlier this week.
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