John Healey’s first Budget speech gave the nation plenty to talk about, but it wasn’t just tax changes and Government spending that caught the attention of punters.
A novelty betting market from leading bookmaker Ladbrokes challenged political betting fans to predict which words and phrases would make it into the Chancellor’s speech, with everything from ‘NHS’ and ‘Cost of Living’ to ‘HP Sauce’ and ‘Gogglebox’ appearing among the selections.
Gogglebox Steals the Show at 12/1
At mybettingsites.co.uk, we were listening intently for some of the bigger odds. And in one of the more unexpected moments of the afternoon, Gogglebox, priced at 12/1, actually got a mention, with Healey saying, “It is an honour to stand here as Chancellor to deliver my first Budget. And I had hoped that I might be the most closely-watched member of the Government this week, but then the Prime Minister went on Gogglebox.”
Googlebox was the longest-priced selection on Ladbrokes’ list, meaning anyone who successfully backed the Channel 4 programme to feature in the speech could have been celebrating a rather unusual Budget-day winner.
Budget speeches are usually filled with economic forecasts, spending commitments and enough financial terminology to send even the most enthusiastic political observer reaching for another cup of coffee.
The reference certainly provided an unexpected talking point. And given that the programme revolves around people sitting on their sofas commenting on television, perhaps it was a fitting addition to a speech that had viewers across the country doing much the same thing.
From HP Sauce to Yorkshireman: The Budget Buzzword Odds
The betting market featured a mixture of political terminology, topical issues and some rather unusual expressions.
Among the more entertaining possibilities were:
| Buzzword | Odds |
|---|---|
| Northern Powerhouse | 1/1 |
| Government Debt | 2/1 |
| Brexit | 3/1 |
| Yorkshireman | 5/1 |
| Keir Starmer | 6/1 |
| Brazil | 6/1 |
| Fastest Growth in the G7 | 11/10 |
| Austerity | 11/10 |
| Snap Election | 10/1 |
| HP Sauce | 10/1 |
| Gogglebox | 12/1 |
