The New Nation - Internet Edition

AFP, London

Voting began Thursday in a by-election in northwest England liable to deal a fresh blow to embattled Prime Minister Gordon Brown.

Three weeks after Labour slumped to its worst local poll results in 40 years, Brown could see Crewe and Nantwich constituency seized by the opposition Conservatives for the first time ever. The election, called after the death of the sitting Labour member of parliament, is being watched closely as a sign of how far support for the centre-left party's has slumped and the extent of the Tory revival. It is also the first time voters have a direct say on the government's compensation package for the low paid, prompted by widespread outrage at its abolition of the lowest rate of income tax in April. Polls opened at 7 a.m. (0600 GMT) and close at 10 p.m. (2100 GMT), with the result expected early Friday.