‘Energy Prices’ and ‘China’ top Autumn Statement buzzwords

Chancellor George Osbourne will soon be addressing the Commons in the imaginatively named Autumn Statement, where he takes the temperature of the UK economy and reiterates his plans to ramp up taxation on all things enjoyable in his forthcoming spring Budget.

This means Ladbrokes are back with their special ‘buzzword bingo’ to give punters the opportunity to make some cash off the chancellor for once, by guessing some words which may make it into Osborne’s pre-budget warble.

As talk of long-awaited economic growth and escalating fuel bills dominate the current news landscape, the words ‘China’ and ‘energy prices’, are tagged at 1/3 and 1/2 to feature respectively.

Political hot potato ‘immigration’ is another punters believe is likely to get a mention at 6/4, while the classic phrase ‘hard working families’ is also deemed pretty probable to pass the chancellor’s lips at 2/1.

The buzzword list may also reflect the fact that the economy is heading in the right direction with phrases such as ‘austerity’ at 5/1 and ‘we’re all in this together’ (3/1) having far longer odds than in recent years.

As for the chancellor’s chosen neckwear for the televised speech, punters are less sure he’ll venture far from his preference for a blue tie, priced at 1/1, with the most likely deviation from conservative colours being purple at 3/1.

Alex Donohue of Ladbrokes said: “The buzzword bingo betting has changed somewhat to reflect the times. Energy prices and China are the themes with the shortest odds while we think the chance of austerity getting a mention is at its longest in years.”

He added, “we’re waiting for the day Osborne trumps us in the tie betting but for now punters are favouring trusty blue or purple.”

Meanwhile, punters are almost certain that shadow chancellor Ed Balls will mention ‘the cost of living’ when he gives his reply – at 1/10 with Ladbrokes.

All Odds and Markets are correct as of the date of publishing.

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Ladbrokes latest betting

Autumn Statement specials

Buzzword Bingo
1/3 Energy Prices
1/2 China
6/4 Immigration
2/1 Hard Working Families
5/1 Bankers’ Bonuses
3/1 We’re All In This Together
3/1 Striving To Get On
5/1 Triple A
5/1 Austerity

6/1 Labour’s Economic Mess
12/1 British Jobs For British Workers
10/1 Keynesian
10/1 Green Shoots
10/1 Bedroom Tax
12/1 Mansion Tax
16/1 No Plan B
20/1 Magic Money Tree
25/1 Twitter
50/1 Omnishambles
50/1 Neoclassical Endogenous Growth Theory
100/1 Bullingdon

1/10 Ed Balls to mention ‘cost of living’ in his response

Length of speech
6/4 Under 45 minutes
11/5 45mins – 50 mins
6/4 Over 50 mins

Tie colour
Evs Blue
3/1 Purple
5/1 Green
6/1 Grey
8/1 Brown
16/1 Red
20/1 Orange
20/1 Yellow
20/1 Black
25/1 White
66/1 Bow tie
100/1 No tie
200/1 Flag of China