Sue Gray report findings and reactions: Bookmakers expect Johnson to stand firm

Boris Johnson has been eased from 6-4 to 5-2 to step down as prime minister before the end of this year after the publication of Sue Gray's report on parties at 10 Downing Street during Covid-19 lockdowns.

The senior civil servant's long-awaited report focused on 12 social events held at Downing Street in 2020 and 2021 and concluded that the public "have a right to expect the very highest standards of behaviour in such places and clearly what happened fell well short of this".

However, the prime minister is 10-11 with Hills and Ladbrokes to remain in his post until 2024 or later while it is 7-2 that Johnson departs in 2023.

The governing Conservatives are 4-5, and as short as 4-7 with some bookmakers, to win the most seats at the next general election and Labour can be backed at even-money in that market. The next election is 1-5 to take place in 2024 and Hills offer 20-1 that it is held this year.

It is 6-1 the field in the betting for the next Conservative leader with Liz Truss, Jeremy Hunt and Tom Tugendhat rated as the leading contenders. Chancellor of the Exchequer Rishi Sunak who, like Johnson, was given a fixed-penalty notice for attending a gathering at 10 Downing Street in June 2020, is a 14-1 chance.

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