Britons are bracing for two crucial by-elections on Thursday (February 23) – one in Stoke and another in Copeland, Cumbria.
The by-elections were sparked by the resignations of Labour MPs Jamie Reed and Tristram Hunt.
The Copeland by-election came about after Labour’s Jamie Reed announced his resignation from the post in December.
Jamie Reed quit as MP to work in the nuclear industry. Labour won the seat in the 2015 General Election. However, this time it is likely that Labour will relinquish the seat, with the bookies expecting a victory for the Conservatives which would heap serious pressure on Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn.
The vote is being seen as a key electoral test for the Labour leader.
The Stoke by-election was triggered by the resignation of former Labour MP Tristram Hunt, who left Parliament to become the director of the Victoria and Albert Museum in London.
Labour has chosen councillor Gareth Snell to defend a seat it has never lost since its creation.
Since being created for the 1950 General Election, Stoke Central has always returned Labour MPs.
It has traditionally been seen as rock solid Labour territory and Hunt won in 2015 by a 5,179 margin. However,
Labour's majority has been decreasing sharply in recent years, from 49.5% in 1997 to 16.7% in 2015.
