GEORGE OSBORNE was 6/1 with William Hill to be the next Conservative leader when he stood in for David Cameron at PMQs in June, and a 7/1 chance to become the next Prime Minister. Boris Jonson was then 7/4 and 2/1 favourite respectively, but since then Mr Osborne has been consistently backed to take on both positions and now, as he visits China looking to encourage investment in Britain, he has become clear favourite.
Hills now make Osborne 11/8 favourite to be the next Leader, and 13/8 favourite to be the next Prime Minister, while Boris Johnson's odds have lengthened to 10/3 to be next Leader and 4/1 to be next PM.
'Mr Osborne has been heavily backed to succeed David Cameron both as Leader and next PM while Boris Johnson's odds have gone into something of a freefall as he has drifted to second favourite in each market.' said Hill's spokesman Graham Sharpe.
WILLIAM HILL....Next elected Tory leader; 11/8 Osborne; 10/3 Boris; 8/1 May; 10/1 Javid; 20/1 Hammond; 25/1 Gove. Others on request.
NEXT PM....13/8 Osborne; 4/1 Boris; 6/1 Corbyn; 11/1 Javid; May; 16/1 Jarvis; D Miliband. Others on request