Boris Johnson is on course to remain UK prime minister for another year at least, according to online betting sites, as he’s surged in popularity over the last month, with odds of 1/4 for a 2022 exit.
Johnson has been in charge of the country during its biggest crisis since the second world war but appears to have ridden the worst of the storm as we head towards the summer months. The UK has one of the worst Covid death rates in Europe yet Johnson’s popularity has steadily risen since the government delivered on its promise to exit the EU in the New Year.
However, despite delivering on Brexit and rolling out a very successful vaccine program throughout the UK, it’ll be interesting to see if the sheer weight of Dominic Cummings’ allegations, amongst many other things, will see the hot water Johnson currently resides in reach boiling point? And while the 2022 exit at 1/4 looks very short, a few bookmakers were offering prices of 1/7 just a few days ago, which would suggest that BoJo is heading in the ‘right’ direction.
Meanwhile, according to Paddy Power, Johnson is 7/1 to lose his job as UK prime minister before the end of 2021. That price has steadily risen as the year has rolled on and, with an 81-seat majority in the Commons, it appears unlikely the PM will be ousted by his own party before next year.
The next general election is not scheduled until the summer of 2024, yet the Conservatives could look to trigger a snap election before then – a challenge Labour would most likely take up.
Who are Johnson’s potential successors?
Should Johnson meet his end, Chancellor of the Exchequer Rishi Sunak is the favourite to become next PM, priced at 16/5.
Second-favourite is labour leader Keir Starmer, but his ascension would involve his party winning a general election, but he’s available at 41/10. Michael Gove can be backed at 8/1, while Jeremy Hunt and Dominic Raab are at 24/1 and 20/1, respectively.
BestofBets.com spokesperson said: “Despite the turmoil at the top of government over the past 18 months, Johnson is still resonating with the British public.
“Delivering Brexit came hand-in-hand with January’s launch of the Covid-19 vaccine roll-out which to date has fully immunised over 25m people with a second dose.
“And although this is great, the recent headlines in the press appear to have spurred on the political betting markets and if the latest betting is anything to go by, Boris will most likely leave within 12-18 months.
‘As to who will take over, Chancellor Rishi Sunak is the 16/5 consensus favourite ahead of Labour’s Keir Starmer at 41/10, meaning no clear frontrunner has yet been established but that could easily change.”
