A brave Chapel Market punter has bet £10,000 on Jeremy Corbyn becoming prime minister in next month’s General Election.
Islington North incumbent and Labour leader Mr Corbyn is the rank outsider in the June 8 poll – but that didn’t stop the man “marching” into the Islington branch of Betfred yesterday afternoon and laying down two brave bets on a Labour win. He could win £220,000.
Peter Spencer, PR executive at Betfred, told the Gazette: “Yesterday afternoon, someone marched into our shop in Chapel Market. He sat down with a betting slip and put £5,000 on Labour to win the most seats at 16/1, and £5,000 on Labour to have an overall majority in Parliament at 28/1.”
“He stands to win £80,000 from the first bet and £140,000 from the second.
“None of the staff recognised him – he had never been seen in the shop before. All they can tell is that he was in his 20s, possibly a student. When they were taking the payment they asked him: ‘Are you sure?’ He responded: ‘Yes, of course I am.’”
Mr Corbyn has history in upsetting election odds. When he first stood for the Labour leadership in summer 2015, some bookies had him at 200/1. Yet a couple of months later, he won the election in a 59 per cent landslide.
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules here