Amid scandals, UK PM Johnson faces major test in local election

Britain's Prime Minister Boris Johnson attends a news conference to update the nation on the Covid-19 booster vaccine program in the Downing Street briefing room in central London, Britain, December 15, 2021. Tolga Akmen/Pool via REUTERS

WHITCHURCH, England (Reuters) - Voters went to the polls in a region of central England on Thursday to elect a new member of parliament in a test of British Prime Minister Boris Johnson's authority after accusations of sleaze and his handling of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Johnson's Conservative Party is facing a fight to retain the parliamentary seat for North Shropshire in a so-called by-election, triggered by last month's resignation of Owen Paterson after he was found to have broken rules on paid lobbying.