Next Conservative leader odds: Sunak hardens as favourite

Rishi Sunak's position at the head of the betting to become next Conservative leader has hardened after early frontrunner Ben Wallace ruled himself of contention on Saturday.

Sunak, whose resignation as chancellor on Tuesday sparked a mass exodus of ministerial colleagues, is now 6-4 from 11-4 to succeed Boris Johnson as Tory leader and prime minister.

Defence secretary Wallace was installed as bookmakers' favourite to take over from Johnson after the prime minister resigned on Thursday.

However, he announced on Saturday that he would not be seeking to put his name on the ballot paper and would instead focus on his current job as head of defence and "keeping this great country safe".

Penny Mordaunt, who Wallace replaced at the head of the betting on Thursday, is the 11-2 second-favourite to succeed Johnson, although she has yet to declare her intention to run.

Foreign secretary Liz Truss is another yet to announce whether she will run for Party leadership, although she is known to have ambitions for the top job. She is 6-1 from 10-1.

Tom Tugendhat announced his leadership challenge in Friday's Daily Telegraph but having been originally cut to 6-1 from 9-1, he was an 8-1 shot by Saturday lunchtime.

Attorney general Suella Braverman was another to declare she would enter the race on Friday and she is now 16-1 from 40-1 to succeed Johnson.

Not got a bet365 account? Bet £10 & get £50 in free bets

Open account offer. Minimum deposit requirement. Free Bets are paid as bet credits and are available for use upon settlement of bets to value of qualifying deposit. Minimum odds, bet and payment method exclusions apply. Returns exclude bet credits stake. Time limits/T&Cs apply. 18+ begambleaware.org

CLAIM OFFER HERE

MORE FREE BETS

Today's top sports betting stories

Follow us on Twitter @racingpostsport