Has Brown bottled it?

Politics punters have been quick to round on Gordon Brown and are backing the Conservatives hand over fist, according to bookmakers.

Whoever said a week was a long time in politics could well have been saying that as a summary of Brown's last seven days. The Prime Minister, now over 100 days into his reign, had been waltzing towards a hands down election win.

But following David Cameron's stirring performance at the Tory Party conference in Blackpool and the PM's lack of action over calling an early election, the Labour party have suddenly found its not all plain sailing.

Ladbrokes cut the price on the Tories winning the most seats at the next General Election twice over the weekend and were forced to do so again on Monday morning after the money poured in.

Labour are still odds on at 4/6 for victory but Cameron's party are now in to 11/10, their lowest price in months.

The firm have also gone back up with the year in which the next General Election will take place and make 2009 the 4/7 favourite. 2008 is available at 6/1 with 2010 now 2/1 and 2007 a highly unlikely 66/1.

Spokesman Robin Hutchison said: "We're top price Labour because the punters just don't want to know them.

"They've taken Gordon Brown's hesitancy as a sign of weakness and are piling on the Tories before the value disappears."

Ladbrokes have slashed the odds on Brown being the first Cabinet Minister to resign or be sacked from 50/1 to 16/1.

David Miliband is the 6/4 favourite to take over from Brown at the head of the Labour Party. Douglas Alexander is 3/1, with Ed Balls at 6/1 and Hilary Benn 8/1.

LATEST BETTING

General Election

Which party will win the most seats?

Labour 4/6; Conservatives 11/10; Liberal Democrats 100/1

Year of the next General Election?

2007 66/1; 2008 6/1; 2009 4/7; 2010 2/1

Next Permanent leader of the Labour Party?

David Miliband 6/4; Douglas Alexander 3/1; Ed Balls 6/1; Hilary Benn 8/1; Alistair Darling 10/1; Jacqui Smith 10/1