Sunak Faces Electoral Tests That Risk Encouraging Tory Plotters

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(Bloomberg) — Rishi Sunak faces a double electoral test on Thursday that could trigger further division in his Conservative Party and undermine his bid to stop the Labour Party from taking power in a UK-wide vote expected in the fall.

Losing either of the special elections in Wellingborough, central England, and Kingswood outside the southwest city of Bristol, would be a major setback for Sunak given the Tories are defending a significant majority in both. Labour leader Keir Starmer would likely present a victory as proof his poll-leading party still has momentum after a bruising series of political U-turns.