The explosive BBC show hit out at Labour’s handling of anti-Semitism claims, and senior figures were accused of interfering with the disciplinary process – something Labour has denied. The backlash has mounted pressure on Jeremy Corbyn, with PaddyPower stating it has received a “huge number of bets” on the Labour Party leader leaving this year, as the odds tumble from 4/1 to 6/4. The online bookie has also slashed the price on Mr Corbyn vacating before the end of the month – from 16/1 to 8/1. Whilst he is a 20/1 shot to leave before the week is out.
A Paddy Power spokesman said: “The BBC Panorama documentary last night looks like it may well be the beginning of the end for Jeremy Corbyn.
“Since it aired, we’ve been on the receiving end of a huge number of bets on him to step down, with plenty of requesting odds for him to be gone as soon as the end of this week.”
Shadow Brexit Secretary, Sir Keir Starmer, leads the market to replace Mr Corbyn at 5/1, followed by Emily Thornberry 6/1, Rebecca Long-Bailey 7/1, and Angela Rayner at 10/1.
The Panorama documentary has since been condemned by the Labour Party.
Eight Labour members told Panorama they were undermined in their attempts to tackle anti-Semitism in the party.
Four of those who spoke out, including former Labour general secretary Iain McNicol, broke non-disclosure agreements to do so.
Gideon Falter, chief executive of Campaign Against Anti-Semitism, said the show was “heartbreaking”.
Labour deputy leader, Tom Watson, said the party had failed to address the “permissive culture” that people can use anti-Semitic language in meetings and on social media.
A Labour spokesman said the party rejected any claim it is anti-Semitic and said it complained in advance to the BBC “over the way the programme was put together and its choice of a presenter who has expressed overt personal and political hostility to Jeremy Corbyn’s politics”.
He added: “We stand in solidarity with Jewish people, and we’re taking decisive action to root out anti-Semitism from our movement and society.
“The Panorama programme was not a fair or balanced investigation. It was a seriously inaccurate, politically one-sided polemic, which breached basic journalistic standards, invented quotes and edited emails to change their meaning. It was an overtly biased intervention by the BBC in party political controversy.
“Despite claims made in the programme, Labour is taking decisive action against anti-Semitism. Since Jennie Formby became general secretary the rate at which anti-Semitism cases have been dealt with has increased more than four-fold.”
