Britain is holding a key local election on Thursday that could trigger the endgame for Labour leader Keir Starmer's beleaguered premiership, or win him a reprieve. Labour party veteran and Greater Manchester mayor Andy Burnham is looking to win the parliamentary by-election for the Makerfield constituency in northwestern England, so that he can then try to replace Starmer as prime minister. Polling stations opened at 7am (0600 GMT). They will close at 10pm, with counting due to begin straight away. Pollsters expect Burnham to win the historic contest, but he faces a tough fight from the hard-right Reform UK party. "Almost undoubtedly it's in the hands of the voters of Makerfield as to whether or not Burnham becomes prime minister," political scientist John Curtice. "If Burnham does win, his path to 10 Downing Street looks to be relatively assured. If they deny him the opportunity, it may be that Starmer will survive, at least for the time being," he said.
UK Labour's 'most popular politician' Andy Burnham launches high-risk leadership bid
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