Odds slashed on a second General Election in 2020 as Sinn Fein, Fine Gael and Fianna Fail struggle to form next Government

Bookies have slashed odds on a second General Election happening in 2020.

Ladbrokes currently have the odds of the country going to the polls again at 11/8, down from 2/1 after a surge of bets.

Micheal Martin is still the favourite to become the next Taoiseach at 3/10, while the incumbent Leo Varadkar is second most likely at 13/2.

There is still steady support for Sinn Fein leader Mary Lou McDonald taking the top job, but she remains the third favourite at 4/1.

Sinn Fein leader Mary Lou McDonald, Social Democrats joint leader Roisin Shortall, Fine Gael leader, Taoiseach Leo Varadkar, host RTE's Claire Byrne, Green Party leader Eamon Ryan, Fianna Fail leader Micheal Martin, Solidarity People Before Profit politician Richard Boyd Barrett and Irish Labour Party leader Brendan Howlin, as they take to the stage for the seven way RTE leaders debate at the National University of Ireland Galway (NUIG) campus in Galway, Ireland. (Niall Carson/PA Wire)

Meanwhile the most likely next Government according to the bookies is a grand coalition of Fianna Fail, Fine Gael and the Green Party.

An "alliance of the left" between Sinn Fein, Labour, Social Democrats, the Green Party and People Before Profit is a relative long-shot at 20/1.

Nicola McGeady of Ladbrokes said: “If the odds are anything to go by, it is looking increasingly likely that 2020 will see a second General Election.

"Mary Lou McDonald was the worst result in the book to be Next Taoiseach before the election and the liabilities have only gotten worse with support showing no signs of dwindling.”

A second General Election in 2020

11/8

Next Taoiseach

3/10 Micheal Martin, 4/1, Mary Lou McDonald, 13/2 Leo Varadkar

Next Government

2/1 FF + FG + Green

3/1 FF + FG + Green + SD

10/1 FF + SF + Green

20/1 SF + SD + Lab + Green + PBP.