Politics

Alliance Party: Bookies give short odds on Naomi Long as new leader

Naomi Long is tipped to succeed David Ford while Stephen Farry is the bookies' second favourite. Picture by David Young/PA Wire
Naomi Long is tipped to succeed David Ford while Stephen Farry is the bookies' second favourite. Picture by David Young/PA Wire Naomi Long is tipped to succeed David Ford while Stephen Farry is the bookies' second favourite. Picture by David Young/PA Wire

IT won't quite be a coronation when Alliance's 250-strong council meets to choose David Ford's successor on October 26, but it's widely expected that deputy and acting leader Naomi Long will emerge as the party's eighth leader.

Certainly that's what bookmakers think as the East Belfast MLA was last night made the 1-8 favourite for the post.

From east Belfast, where she achieved Alliance's greatest ever election victory by dethroning Peter Robinson in the 2010 Westminster election, the 44-year-old is a qualified engineer and was Belfast's second female lord mayor.

Former employment and learning minister Stephen Farry is expected to assume the deputy leader's role, though the odds on him taking the top job are relatively short at 5-1.

Ms Long's East Belfast colleague Chris Lyttle is the third favourite with odds of 8-1, while Stormont newcomer and former Ulster Unionist Paula Bradshaw is an outside bet at 16-1.

Outsiders to replace Mr Ford were Trevor Lunn, Kellie Armstrong and Stewart Dickson – all of who are priced at 20-1.