Polanski falls short as Labour wins Holborn and St Pancras by-election

The Labour Party has won the Holborn and St Pancras by-election by a solid, though reduced margin of victory. The election for Sir Keir Starmer’s old seat was fiercely contested by a total of 15 candidates, including Green leader Zack Polanski and Labour’s Sagal Abdi-Wali. It marked a defining moment for Polanski, who contested the Labour stronghold in a bid to join his party’s five MPs in Parliament. However, he ultimately fell short, securing 8,928 votes to Abdi-Wali’s 12,292. Conservative Ewan Cameron came third with 1,922, while Reform’s Pete Newman finished fourth with 1,612. The seat has been held by Labour since its formation in 1983, including for 11 years by Starmer between 2015 and September of this year. That remains unchanged today, although the Green Party insists the results reflect a close race. Follow The i Paper’s live blog for all the latest. ‘Clearly racist’: Polanski breaks silence on controversial Zionism policy Labour win by-election with 45.17 per cent vote share Sort: Newest first Oldest first October 9, 2026 5:00 am Sagal Abdi-Wali: Who is Labour’s new MP? Labour’s successful candidate in the Holborn and St Pancras by-election is Sagal Abdi-Wali, the leader of Camden Council.Abdi-Wali is a former child refugee who grew up in Camden after her family fled to the UK from Somalia in the 1990s.She has been a councillor for Camden Square since 2022, and has led the council since May 2026.In her role, Abdi-Wali has held responsibility for housing and adult social care in the local authority.She has also served as a volunteer and trustee for local charities, as well as worked as a school governor and a local government officer at Camden Council.Labour’s candidate in the Holborn and St Pancras by-election (Photo: Peter Nicholls/Getty Images)“This place welcomed my family as refugees and gave us hope when we needed it most,” Abdi-Wali said after her selection as Labour’s candidate in the constituency.“I am so grateful to have had the opportunity to build a life here, serving our community as a councillor, school governor, and community activist. Now I am standing to say thank you and to give back the hope you gave me. “Throughout this campaign, I promise to put our communities at the heart of everything I do, now and for the future. Together, we can make hope win.” October 9, 2026 4:30 am How did we get here? The Holborn and St Pancras by-election was triggered by Sir Keir Starmer’s sudden resignation as an MP last month.Starmer, who represented the north London constituency for 11 years, announced he would be resigning as its MP just over one month after he was succeeded as prime minister by Andy Burnham on 20 July.Pressure mounted on Starmer to step down from the top job following Labour’s disastrous results in the local and devolved administration elections in May. Sir Keir Starmer announced he would stand down as an MP just over a month after he resigned as prime minister (Photo: Isabel Infantes/Reuters)That was compounded by the resignation of his defence secretary John Healey and Armed Forces minister Al Carns in June, following a months-long battle over defence funding, as well as a range of political rows throughout his premiership, stemming from hiring Lord Peter Mandelson as US ambassador and the scrapping of winter fuel payments.But Burnham’s victory in the Makerfield by-election in June, which secured his return to Parliament, was the final catalyst for Starmer’s exit from No 10.Announcing his resignation as an MP in an interview with the Camden New Journal, Starmer said his aim was to focus on “international affairs including defence, security, trade and technology in a fast-changing world”, as well as “work on combating violence against women and girls”. October 9, 2026 3:48 am Burnham bounce and ‘message of hope’ key to victory, Abdi-Wali says Max MelzerOvernight Editor Sagal Abdi-Wali has acknowledged Labour’s polling bounce under Andy Burnham and the party’s new “message of hope” played a key role in her by-election victory.Speaking to Sky after she was elected to represent Holborn and St Pancras, Abdi-Wali said the new Government’s message “really resonated with people here”.“I think it shows that with this victory, we’ve been able to do that, and I think people are really excited about what we’re offering,” she added.Asked whether the Green Party’s controversial motion on Zionism also played a role, Abdi-Wali deflected.“I think what the reaction I was getting on the doorstep and on a street throughout the four weeks was always the same,” she said.“It was really positive, people coming up to me, knowing I am from the community, knowing what I’m wanting to offer, also knowing what the government is now doing, and were just, like, really positive about that.” October 9, 2026 3:37 am ‘Clearly racist’: Polanski breaks silence on controversial Zionism policy Max MelzerOvernight Editor Zack Polanski has broken his silence on the Green Party’s controversial Zionism policy, saying he believed the “ongoing genocide and the displacement” of Palestinians was “clearly racist”.“I grew up in a Zionist household, and I grew up with the idea that that region was a land without people and the people without a land,” he told media on Friday morning.Green Party leader Zack Polanski said he would stay on as leader after the defeat (Photo: Jordan Pettitt/PA Wire)“As I’ve educated myself, learned, discovered. I don’t believe that’s true, and what we’re seeing is an ongoing genocide and the displacement of the Palestinian people. I believe that’s clearly racist.”When asked whether he supported a two-state solution, Polanski added it was “not our role to decide” before insisting states should have equal rights and should adhere to international human law. October 9, 2026 3:27 am Polanski vows to stay on as Green leader despite defeat Max MelzerOvernight Editor Zack Polanski has vowed to stay on as Green Party leader despite losing the Holborn and St Pancras by-election.Speaking to Sky after his party conceded defeat, Polanski replied “of course I can carry on” when asked about his future.“I wanted to win, no one runs an election to lose, but ultimately what I’ve seen over the last few weeks are people who are excited about our plans for rent controls, tackling the climate crisis, and nationalising Thames Water,” he added.Polanski also noted the party had tripled its vote share compared to the last general election. October 9, 2026 3:20 am Abdi-Wali says victory ‘deeply personal’ Max MelzerOvernight Editor Labour’s Sagal Abdi-Wali has issued her first remarks after winning the Holborn and St Pancras by-election.“This moment means something deeply personal to me, to represent the place that gave me a home and my family at home, gave me opportunity and helped me shape, and help shape the person I am today,” she told those gathered at the count.“I hope this moment also says something about who gets to belong. For people who look like me, I hope they see themselves reflected in this place and know that their path too belongs here.”Sagal Abdi-Wali after being declared the winner of the Holborn and St Pancras by-election (Photo: Jordan Pettitt/PA Wire)Abdi-Wali arrived in Camden as a child refugee, having fled Somalia’s civil war.The newly elected MP thanked supporters and her predecessor, Sir Keir Starmer, for helping her to retain the seat for Labour. October 9, 2026 3:11 am Labour win by-election with 45.17 per cent vote share Max MelzerOvernight Editor Labour’s Sagal Abdi-Wali has won the Holborn and St Pancras by-election, securing 45.17 per cent of the votes.Green Party leader Zack Polanski polled second, winning 8,928 votes to Abdi-Wali’s 12,292.The Conservative’s Ewan Cameron, 1,922 votes, came third, with Reform UK’s Peter Newman, 1,612 votes, close behind.Turnout for the by-election was 38.6 per cent, well down on the 54.1 recorded at the general election.Despite Labour’s solid margin of victory, the Green Party saw a dramatic increase in their support, effectively tripling their vote share from 2024. October 9, 2026 2:59 am Analysis: Burnham has passed an early test – but the Greens threat isn’t gone Eleanor LangfordPolitical Reporter Andy Burnham has passed an early test of his premiership.Defeat in a seat Labour has held since 1983, and to the Green leader himself, would have raised questions over whether the “Burnham bounce” was already fading.Instead, victory suggests his pitch to left-wing voters is working – at least, in London.For the Greens, it is a significant setback. Zack Polanski stood even as YouGov had his party slipping from 21 per cent in March to 13 per cent in August, and the gamble has not paid off.It also denies him the leverage he wanted. When he was selected, he said a Green win would “make a huge difference” to the chances of progressive Budget measures. Without a seat, he must keep pressuring Burnham from outside Parliament.But one result does not end the threat. YouGov’s 13 per cent is still almost double the Greens’ 2024 general election share. In May’s Camden council elections, they finished just ten points behind Labour across the constituency’s wards.Labour has held the seat. Holding back the Greens nationally may prove harder. October 9, 2026 2:50 am Green Party concedes Holborn and St Pancras by-election Max MelzerOvernight Editor A spokesperson for the Green Party has conceded the Holborn and St Pancras by-election to Labour.“It is clear now we will come a close second in this by-election. Taking the fight to Labour in one of its safest seats shows just how far the Greens have come,” they said in a statement.“Voters want us to keep Labour’s feet to the fire on affordable housing, public ownership of water and the climate crisis.“Greens will be there every single day, holding Labour to account and demanding the change people voted for.”Party leader, Zack Polanski, is yet to comment on the result, with Sky reporting he was meeting Green voters and volunteers present at the count.