William Hill reveals Budget odds

William Hillis offering 16/1 odds on Chancellor George Osborne announcing and changes to VAT or the basic rate, both currently set at 20%.

The bookmaker is also offering odds on the length of the speech and how many sips of water, or indeed any other liquid, Mr Osborne will take during his address to the Commons and on what colour tie he will wear.

William Hillhas opened a book offering a speech of 55 minutes or longer at 4/6, and making a shorter speech, clocking in at 54 minutes 59 seconds or less, an 11/10 chance.

“Less may be more, but we are reckoning on this Budget taking its time to unfold,” a spokesman said.

Meanwhile, Hills expect the Chancellor to slake his thirst twice at least while he delivers the speech, offering 8/11 that he takes two or more sips of liquid, Even money only one, or none at all.

And the bookies anticipate that he will wear a tie in party colours whilst he is making his speech.

Hills have cut their odds for Mr Osborne to wear a predominantly blue coloured tie, from opening odds of 7/4 to 5/4 after a colourful gamble.
The other odds are: 3/1 Purple; 5/1 Green; 8/1 Pink; 10/1 Grey; 10/1 Yellow; 12/1 Brown; 20/1 Orange; 20/1 Black; 20/1 Red.

The bookmaker is also offering 2/1 odds that George Osborne will no longer be Chancellor when the next General Election takes place, 4/11 that he will be, with odds of 18/1 that he will be the next Prime Minister.