Labour wins Holborn and St Pancras by-election
Labour has won the decisive by-election in Holborn and St Pancras, defeating Green Party leader Zack Polanski to retain the seat after the departure of former prime minister Sir Keir Starmer, reports BritPanorama.
Camden Council leader Sagal Abdi-Wali secured victory with 12,292 votes, representing 45 percent of the total, while Mr Polanski came in second with 8,928 votes, or 33 percent. This outcome reflects a majority of 3,364 votes, equating to a 12.4 percent lead for Labour – the party’s lowest margin in this constituency since its creation in 1983. However, the 13 percent swing from Labour to the Greens was insufficient for Mr Polanski to claim victory.
The Conservative candidate Ewan Cameron followed in third place, with Reform and the Liberal Democrats also contesting. Despite the loss, Mr Polanski has affirmed his commitment to remaining as Green Party leader, stating that he does not view his candidacy as a mistake.
In a statement to the press, Mr Polanski commented: “I think it has been an opportunity to present Green Party values, to talk about rent controls, tackling the climate crisis, nationalising Thames Water; it’s been amazing to speak to people in Holborn and St Pancras, I’ve really enjoyed that.”
Addressing her supporters, Ms Abdi-Wali, who emigrated to the UK as a child refugee from Somalia, responded to divisive comments from Reform UK’s Zia Yusuf about her British identity. She remarked, “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. This is Camden, and this is Britain.”
In her victory speech, she further articulated her vision: “I’ve watched people across Camden work to build communities where difference is not something to fear, but something to value. We cannot allow that work, built over generations, to be casually undone by those who seek to divide us.”
Ms Abdi-Wali indicated her intent to push for public ownership of Thames Water, address rough sleeping, and create greater opportunities for young people. The Green Party expressed disappointment over the result but reiterated its determination to remain a significant force in British politics. A spokesperson stated, “We are disappointed to miss out tonight but any ideas of a return to the cosy two-party system is just wishful thinking on the part of the establishment. We are here to stay and just getting started.”
Highlighting the expectations of the electorate, the spokesperson added, “The voters have delivered a message to the Labour government today. They want real change; they want rent controls, they want to see an end to the privatised water rip-off; and they want to see justice for Palestinians.”
Despite the setback, Mr Polanski emphasized the increased support for the Greens as a promising foundation, noting that this by-election represents the party’s second strongest result in terms of vote share, following its victory in February.
