The budget had something for everybody but not a lot for anybody – prompting many to dub it an ‘Election Budget’.
And our punters think Leo Varadkar has Fianna Fail exactly where he wants them – quickly latching onto the 5/2 price offered for a 2018 General Election and backing it into 7/4.
The odds of a Christmas election – the gift nobody wants to receive, but is at least more original than socks – is 25/1, though we make it heavily odds-on that any election in 2018 would take place in November.
Rugby Union – Rugby World Cup 2023 host country candidates press conference – Royal Garden Hotel, London, Britain – September 25, 2017 Irish politician Leo Varadkar during the press conference Action Images via Reuters/Paul Childs
While Varadkar (1/3) has a healthy lead over Micheál Martin (5/2) to remain Taoiseach following the mooted poll.
But, first, there’s the, erm, small matter of a Presidential Election – which brings us nicely onto the favourite, Michael D Higgins, who is priced at a prohibitive 1/10, with little obvious challenge.
Britain Rugby Union – Ireland v New Zealand – 2016 Guinness Series – Aviva Stadium, Dublin, Republic of Ireland – 19/11/16 President of Ireland Michael D. Higgins before the match Reuters / Clodagh Kilcoyne Livepic EDITORIAL USE ONLY.
Joe Lee, Paddy Power’s Head of Politics, said: “Confidence might not be in plentiful supply around Dail Eireann at the moment, with the bromance between Leo and Micheál potentially on the rocks.
“As for the next President, we haven’t seen a pint-sized Irishman this dominant since Ray Houghton donned the Green Jersey. Ireland, clearly, want the ‘D’.”
YEAR OF NEXT GENERAL ELECTION
8/11 – 2019
7/4 – 2018
6/1 – 2020
10/1 – 2021 or later
TAOISEACH AFTER NEXT ELECTION
1/3 – Leo Varadkar
5/2 – Micheál Martin
16/1 – Mary Lou McDonald
20/1 – Simon Coveney
NEXT PRESIDENT
1/10 – Michael D Higgins
7/1 – Sean Gallagher
20/1 – Gavin Duffy
33/1 – Liadh Ni Riada
33/1 – Joan Freeman
100/1 – Peter Casey