William Hill have cut their odds about Gordon Brown leaving office this year from 33/1 to 20/1; and from 5/2 to 15/8 to depart in 2009. He is 15/8 to cease to be PM in 2010.

James Purnell has been backed from 16/1 to 12/1by William Hill to become the next leader of the Labour Party in succession to Gordon Brown.

'In the past week or so we have started to take money in this market and there has been something of a move towards rising star, Mr Purnell' said Hill's spokesman Graham Sharpe.

Hills make David Miliband 5/4 favourite to succeed Gordon Brown as Leader and have lengthened Ed Balls from 5/1 to 6/1 second favourite and also offer: 7/1 Douglas Alexander; 10/1 Alan Johnson; 12/1 Hilary Benn; Ed Miliband; 16/1 Yvette Cooper; Ruth Kelly; James Purnell; 20/1 Andy Burnham.