UK's Starmer faces latest test in tight-run local vote

MANCHESTER, England, Feb 26 - Keir Starmer faces a big test on Thursday when voters in Manchester cast their ballots for a new lawmaker in an election polls say is too close to call between the British leader's Labour Party, populist Reform UK and the left-leaning Greens. Read more at straitstimes.com.

MANCHESTER, England, Feb 26 - Keir Starmer faces a big test on Thursday when voters in Manchester cast their ballots for a new lawmaker in an election polls say is too close to call between the British leader's Labour Party, populist Reform UK and the left-leaning Greens.

The vote in Gorton and Denton, in northwestern England's Greater Manchester, is the latest challenge for Starmer after his judgment came into question over several policy U-turns and the appointment of Labour veteran Peter Mandelson as ambassador to Washington.

Making a surprise appearance in the area on Monday, Starmer and his team have tried to ram home the message that the so-called by-election is a simple choice between Labour and Reform, which is led by Brexit figurehead Nigel Farage.

They have repeatedly said a vote for the Greens, which could steal votes with its left-leaning policies on tackling the cost of living and its support for Gaza, is "a vote for Reform".

ELECTION FOLLOWS SERIES OF MISSTEPS

The choice "could not be more stark", Starmer said in a statement ahead of the vote. "Driving down the cost of living with Labour or driving a wedge between communities under Reform. Moving forwards together, or opening up anger and division that holds our country back."