ASHTON-IN-MAKERFIELD, June 18 (AFP): Britain holds a unique vote 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 triumph in a parliamentary by-election so that he can then try to replace Starmer as prime minister.
Pollsters expect Burnham to win the historic contest to represent the Makerfield constituency in northwest England, 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.
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