The by-election to replace Sir Keir Starmer is being used as a test run for Andy Burnham to decide whether to pull the trigger on an early general election, Labour sources have told The Independent.
The Holborn and St Pancras contest, widely expected to be held on 8 October, was called after Sir Keir called an immediate end to his parliamentary career earlier this month, after being ousted as prime minister and Labour leader.
