Keir Starmer by-election is Andy Burnham’s ‘test run’ for early general election

The by-election in Sir Keir Starmer's old seat has been described as Andy Burnham's "test run" for an early general election.

If the Prime Minister wins the desired amount of support in the Holborn and St Pancras mid-term, where Labour is facing off against Greens leader Zack Polanski, Mr Burnham could bring forward the scheduled date for the 2029 election.

The contest was triggered when Sir Keir announced his resignation at the start of September - despite previously vowing to stay on as an MP following his departure from No10.

Now, Mr Burnham's advisers have suggested that the upcoming contest, due to take place next month, could be a small-scale test of whether the "King of the North's" rise to power has truly quashed the threat from the Greens.

"Because Keir’s seat was a target and Polanski is running in it, this gives the PM a perfect opportunity to see if the Green threat has gone with a change of leader," a party insider told The Independent.

“We are seeing people come back [from the Greens] to Labour. Under Keir, there was no doubt that we were losing lots of supporters and party members to the Greens."

They further claimed that a by-election win against Mr Polanski will prove Labour is "in good shape to fight a general election".

During his time as Prime Minister, Sir Keir oversaw the rise of the progressive left, with Labour voters flocking to the Greens across former heartlands - including the previously-safe Gorton and Denton seat.

After Mr Burnham, who resides within party's soft-left faction, entered Downing Street, strategists are hoping Camden Council leader and refugee Sagal Abdi-Wali could pull back support.

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Fish and chips BANNED from schools as Labour orders pupils to eat lentils and chickpeas every week

Schools across England will be banned from serving traditional fish and chips as Labour orders pupils to eat lentils and chickpeas every week under sweeping new food rules.

The Department for Education (DfE) is set to unveil new standards on Monday requiring schools to serve pulses, such as lentils and chickpeas, at least once a week.

Deep-fried dishes will be eliminated from school kitchens, while breakfast favourites including fried eggs, pastries, chocolate spread and high-sugar cereals will also be banned.

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Former Chancellor says Britain has 'gone off a cliff' in blistering anti-Brexit tirade

George Osborne said the UK has "gone off a cliff" since Brexit as he called for a return to the European Union customs union.

The former Conservative Chancellor, now Chairman of the British Museum, said the UK economy has been drastically affected by leaving the bloc.

Mr Osborne said it would be easier to rejoin the customs union than to join the single market.

"Brexit has been a mess," he told The Independent. “Britain has basically gone off a cliff."

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