Theresa May wins vote of confidence but is a short price to depart next year

The betting proved correct as Theresa May won a vote to remain leader of the Conservative party following a dramatic day in Westminster.

The Prime Minister won the secret ballot of Tory MPs by 200-117, but the margin of victory was far from convincing.

Commentators consider that a significant and damaging level of opposition as it came even after she had told MPs she will depart office before the next general election is due in 2022.

May is 1-3 with Betfair and Paddy Power to leave office in 2019 and she can be backed at 5-2 to stick around until at least 2020.

She had opened up at 4-7 to win the vote but that was swiftly backed down to 1-3 and then it was all rates down to 1-20 on Wednesday as it became apparent the dissenters who had sent letters of no confidence to spark the vote had failed to gain enough support to oust their leader.

The size of the rebellion was a surprise as 50-99 had been seen as the most likely outcome at 4-5 with Coral when betting closed. Between 100 and 149 was an 11-8 shot having opened as favourite.

May's hollow success saw the odds on a second EU referendum being held drift, but it remains a tight market.

Another Brexit vote traded at 10-11 with some bookmakers on Wednesday, but Sky Bet now offer 5-4 that there is another public vote, while Betfair and Paddy Power quote 4-5 that there is not another Brexit referendum.

High-profile Brexiteer Boris Johnson has been cut to 5-1 favourite to become the next Prime Minister with Dominic Raab available at 6-1 alongside Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn.

The Conservatives are evens to win the most seats at the next general election with Labour 11-10. It's 11-8 with Coral that next year will see another general election.

Read every day for no-nonsense previews and expert sports betting tips

Follow us on Twitter

Like us on Facebook RacingPostSport