Sir Keir Starmer is odds-on to replace Jeremy Corbyn as Labour leader, following the party’s devastating defeat in the general election.
The shadow Brexit secretary shot to poll position in the bookmakers’ rankings after Mr Corbyn announced he would “not lead the party in any future general election campaign".
Betfair Exchange sets Sir Keir’s odds of taking up the leadership at 13/8, followed at some distance by shadow business secretary Rebecca Long-Bailey, with odds of 5/1.
They are followed by Angela Rayner and Jess Philips tied at 8/1, with Emily Thorberry and Yvette Cooper on their tails at 13/1 and 16/1 respectively.
Pressure is mounting on Mr Corbyn to stand down immediately as party leader.
The North Islington MP said he would stay on as leader during a "process of reflection” on Labour’s worst defeat since 1935.
However, since then, a number of his colleagues have spoken out against their leader – blaming him personally for the loss and calling for the party’s immediate reconstruction.
Dame Margaret Hodge, who held her Barking seat, tweeted: “Corbyn talking about a period of ‘reflection. I’ve reflected. You failed. Please stand down.”
Meanwhile, Sir Keir - who also retained his Holborn and St Pancras seat - offered his own Twitter statement.
He wrote: “There is no hiding from the overall result. It is devastating. It will hurt the millions of people who so desperately need a Labour Government.
“They have suffered so much under ten years of Tory austerity and will suffer more because of this result.
"We must now reflect; but we must also rebuild."
