First ballot boxes arrive at count in Batley & Spen by-election

Verification of votes begin at the Batley and Spen by-election at Cathedral House in Huddersfield. Sir Keir Starmer is facing a critical test of his leadership as Westminster awaits the results of a crucial west Yorkshire by-election. Labour is defending a majority of more than 3,000 in Batley and Spen — a seat held by the party since 1997 — but bookies and pollsters have the Conservatives as odds-on favorites to win. Ahead of the by-election Sir Keir’s deputy Angela Rayner, who had a dramatic fallout with her boss after the Hartlepool contest, denied she was plotting to replace him.