Voters will head to the polls today in a key by-election in Greater Manchester which could have major implications for Sir Keir Starmer's premiership.
The Gorton and Denton by-election was triggered following the resignation of former Labour MP Andrew Gwynne last month due to ill health.
While Labour secured a convincing 13,000 majority in the constituency in the 2024 general election, today's vote looks to be a closer run affair with strong competition from Reform UK and the Greens.
The BBC reports analysts see the vote as a three-horse race, although the eight other candidates are likely to play their part.
Green leader Zack Polanski has criticised Labour's approach to the by-election, which has rubbished the Green Party's chances and claimed only Labour can beat Reform.
Polanski, The Scotsman reports, argues the tactic could split left-leaning voters, and has warned Labour will need to "search their conscience" if Reform wins.
Robert Ford, professor of political science at the University of Manchester, told the Manchester Evening News anything other than a comfortable Labour victory would create a "massive headache" for the party.
He explained: "The fact that either the radical right or the radical left could take one of the safest Labour seats in the country, is not a good outcome for Labour and not a good look for Labour.
"This is a seat where they started with a massive, massive majority.
"It shouldn't be a story [if they win], but it would be. That shows the trouble that they are already in. Whatever happens on Friday, we are going to have an energised Greater Manchester Reform party, an energised Greater Manchester Green Party, and that's a massive headache for Labour."
The full list of candidates is as follows:
- Sir Oink A-Lot (The Official Monster Raving Loony Party)
- Nick Buckley (Advance UK)
- Charlotte Cadden (Conservative Party)
- Dan Clarke (Libertarian Party)
- Matt Goodwin (Reform UK)
- Sebastian Moore (Social Democratic Party)
- Joseph O'Meachair (Rejoin EU Party)
- Jackie Pearcey (Liberal Democrats)
- Hannah Spencer (Green Party)
- Angeliki Stogia (Labour Party)
- Hugo Wils (Communist League)