Irish punters start to bet on “No” for Lisbon

[arthur.craig]

uk.reuters.com

DUBLIN (Reuters) – Bookmaker Paddy Power has cut the odds on a "No" vote in a second Irish referendum on the European Union's Lisbon treaty after a flow of punters gambled on another defeat, a spokeswoman said on Friday.

Irish voters, representing less than 1 percent of the 27-nation bloc's population, will once again decide the fate of the charter on October 2 after their shock rejection last year delayed its reforms, which are designed to streamline the EU's decision-making and give it a stronger voice in world affairs.

The most recent opinion poll, published in early June, showed 54 percent of respondents backed the treaty but last year surveys also showed a majority in favour until a few weeks before the referendum.

"We have seen a shift towards the 'No' side in the last couple of weeks and it appears our punters think things could be just as tight second time around," Sharon McHugh, a spokeswoman for Paddy Power, said.

"Until a few polls emerge however, there's just no telling how close."

Paddy Power cut the odds of a "No" vote from 5/1 against to 5/2 against — a probability of two in seven.