As the financial crisis has developed, so punters have been backing Gordon Brown to emerge as a stronger political figure. William Hill have seen hefty support for Labour to win the forthcoming Glenrothes by-election, and have cut their odds from 3/1 to 11/4 to 5/2 to 9/4 and now make them 2/1 to retain the seat.

And Gordon Brown has been backed to survive in office to lead Labour into the next General Election, with Hills cutting the odds about that happening from 11/10 to 2/5. Labour's odds of winning the next General Election have also been cut by Hills from 3/1 to 5/2.

'Mr Brown seems to have been enjoying his role in the financial crisis, while punters seem to believe he has only enhanced his personal standing during the last week or so' said Hill's spokesman Graham Sharpe, 'And that has been reflected in the odds about Mr Brown himself and Labour.'

LATEST WILLIAM HILL ODDS....Glenrothes by-election; 4/11 SNP; 2/1 Labour; BROWN TO LEAD Labour into next General Election; 2/5 YES; 7/4 NO; General Election - to be largest Party: 2/7 Cons; 5/2 Labour.

LATEST US ELECTION ODDS...BARACK OBAMA is red hot 1/7 favourite to win the US Presidential Election with William Hill, who make John McCain 4/1 outsider.