News: Politics & Current Affairs

The Clacton by-election writ has been moved with a likely 13 August date. Reform have drifted slightly at bet365 to 1/7, with Count Binface priced at 9/2.

Nigel Farage has resigned as Clacton MP to trigger a by-election. Reform UK are 1/9 favourites with Ladbrokes to retain the seat, with the Conservatives at 6/1.

Labour are 13/8 with Ladbrokes for Most Seats at the next general election after Andy Burnham's "No 10 North" devolution speech. Reform 15/8, 2029 or later 4/5 favourite election year.

Labour are 1/6 with Ladbrokes to win the 30 July Greater Manchester mayoral by-election, triggered by Andy Burnham's disqualification after his Makerfield win. Reform UK 5/1, Conservatives 100/1.

Bookmakers have priced the UK to hit 40C before 1 July at 6/4 and the all-time July record at 2/1 as a Met Office red extreme heat warning takes effect.

Dorking has been compiled as the 4/6 early frontrunner for UK Town of Culture 2028, with Bishop Auckland and Oakham next in a contest open to 20-plus towns.

The 2026 Hugo Award Best Novel market is wide open at the top, with Antonia Hodgson and Robert Jackson Bennett sharing favouritism at 2/1. We break down the full odds.

Andy Burnham is 1/25 to be the next permanent Labour leader following his emphatic Makerfield by-election win. Keir Starmer is 1/20 to be replaced in 2026 and 1/16 not to lead Labour into the next election.

Bookmakers have priced the next Doomsday Clock announcement at 1/3 to move closer to midnight in 2027, with "No" at 6/4. The Bulletin has trended forward in recent years.

AI is the 3/1 favourite to be Oxford Dictionary's Word of the Year 2026, with "vibe" and "lowkenuinely" 4/1 second. Looksmaxxing, aura-farming, matcha and deepfake all also in contention.