'I feel sorry for her': Sympathy for Theresa May as bookmakers halt betting on leadership ballot

Some Londoners are reacting with sympathy at the news Prime Minister Theresa May faces a confidence vote that may remove her from power.

Some bookmakers have suspended betting on the question of whether Mrs May will win the ballot as it grows increasingly apparent she will succeed the attempt to topple her.

And as she continues her years-long battle to navigate the UK out of the European Union, many voters are voicing their support for the beleaguered leader.

Abby Handbridge, a trader at Chapel Market in north London, told the Associated Press that the spectacle was "embarrassing" for Britain in the eyes of the world.

"I feel really sorry for Theresa May," she said.

"She's being battered by everybody and Boris Johnson has just come out with a haircut and weight loss so we know what he is looking for."

Another trader, 61-year-old David White, compared Mrs May's Conservative Party challengers to "rats deserting a sinking ship".

"I don't think it should have come to this," he said of the formal challenge to Mrs May.

Support was hardly unanimous, though, with some traders saying Mrs May was power hungry.

Many demonstrators continue to protest against Brexit outside the Houses of Parliament, with some calling for a new "peoples' vote" or for the UK to ditch Brexit altogether.

With only hours remaining for Mrs May to shore up the 158 votes she needs to remain as leader, bookmakers William Hill said they were taking no more bets on the ballot.

Spokesman Rupert Adams said the odds favoured Mrs May from the beginning of the day, and did nothing but improve as the night's vote neared.

Before betting was suspended, people putting money on a Mrs May win had to wager 10 pounds to win one pound.

Mr Adams said the firm suspended betting because "we're 100 percent certain she's going to win."

If she loses the confidence vote, Mrs May must step down and there will be a contest to choose a new leader. She will remain leader, and prime minister, until the successor is picked.

Several leading Brexiteers, including former Foreign Secretary Boris Johnson and ex-Brexit Secretary Dominic Raab, have said loudly that they think they could get a better deal with the EU, and are likely to enter a race to replace her.

More conciliatory candidates including Home Secretary Sajid Javid and Work and Pensions Secretary Amber Rudd, are also possible contenders.