PM Brown faces first electoral test

British Prime Minister Gordon Brown, his popularity plunging and his reputation for economic competence under fire, faced his first electoral test yesterday since taking over from Tony Blair in June.

Britons began voting in local elections in England and Wales, including a closely fought battle between two political mavericks for the powerful job of mayor of London.

The ruling Labour Party did badly at the last such elections in 2004, when public anger was running high over Britain's backing for the United States in the Iraq war. If Brown loses even more ground this time, it would further damage his standing and fan speculation over a possible challenge to his leadership.