Green Party leader Zack Polanski is among more than a dozen candidates who are days away from a crucial by-election in Sir Keir Starmer’s former seat of Holborn and St Pancras, reports BritPanorama.
The contest in the north London constituency is a significant test for both Mr Polanski and new Labour leader Andy Burnham, as voters issue what is seen to be their verdict on the prime minister’s first weeks in office.
Candidates from all major parties are fighting for votes, but Mr Polanski and Labour council leader Sagal Abdi-Wali are expected to be the main contenders.
Mr Polanski’s party has made notable strides on the national and local stage in recent months, following the success of their candidate Hannah Spencer in the Gorton and Denton by-election in February. However, the party has struggled in recent national polls, experiencing a decline from a high of 21 per cent earlier this year to just 11 per cent in recent surveys.
As constituents prepare to head to the polls on Thursday, here are the candidates up for election:
Labour: Sagal Abdi-Wali
Sagal Abdi-Wali, the leader of Camden Council, will attempt to defend the Holborn and St Pancras constituency for the Labour Party. Ms Abdi-Wali has represented Camden Square as a councillor since 2022 and assumed leadership of the council in May.
Only two Labour MPs have ever represented Holborn and St Pancras: former health secretary Frank Dobson, from 1983 to 2015, then Sir Keir Starmer.
In the most recent general election in 2024, Sir Keir held the seat with 48.9 per cent of the vote, ahead of independent candidate Andrew Feinstein in second place on 18.9 per cent and the Greens in third on 10.4 per cent. The Conservatives came fourth on 7.2 per cent, Reform finished fifth on 6.1 per cent, and the Liberal Democrats were sixth on 5.8 per cent.
Ms Abdi-Wali arrived in the UK as a child refugee from Somalia aged six and has lived in the area since she was a child, leaving only briefly to study at university. She has volunteered in the local community since she was a teenager, seeking to make housing a key issue in her campaign.
Green Party: Zack Polanski
Zack Polanski has been selected as the Green Party’s candidate in the Holborn and St Pancras by-election as he prepares to fight this crucial contest in the historically Labour seat.
Upon being confirmed as the party’s candidate, Polanski stated, “everyone knows it’s the Green Party against Labour,” framing the by-election as a “truly historic” opportunity.
The by-election will pose an early test for Mr Burnham’s popularity with the public, with the Greens likely to pose the greatest threat to Labour in this contest. Labour has held the Holborn and St Pancras seat continuously since it was created in 1983, but recent trends show voters shifting towards Green and independent candidates.
In May’s local elections, the Greens celebrated significant victories, including Zoe Garbett becoming the UK’s first directly-elected Green mayor in Hackney, thereby ending decades of Labour dominance in that position. The Greens also won mayoralties in Lewisham and achieved major wins in councils across the country.
In her own Camden Square ward, Ms Abdi-Wali narrowly won by just 60 votes against the Green Party candidate. Although Polanski expressed optimism, he tempered expectations about the Green’s chances of winning the by-election, stating his leadership role “doesn’t depend on it [winning the by-election] whatsoever.”
Reform UK: Pete Newman
Reform UK has chosen former Metropolitan Police detective Pete Newman, who responded to the aftermath of the July 7 bombings, to stand in the Holborn and St Pancras by-election.
Following his retirement from the Met, Newman has worked as a professional security and investigative consultant. He remarked, “I am humbled and honoured to be Reform UK’s parliamentary candidate for Holborn and St Pancras,” highlighting his concerns about the current state of crime and policing in London.
Liberal Democrats: Patrick Stillman
Patrick Stillman, a Liberal Democrat councillor for West Hampstead and outgoing chairman of Camden Lib Dems, will represent the party in the Holborn and St Pancras by-election. With the party having come sixth in 2024, they face a tough challenge.
Stillman asserted, “Voters here deserve better than a Labour government in chaos, or a Green Party using this seat to prop up its leader’s ambitions,” promising to advocate a confident liberal message on various local issues.
Conservatives: Ewan Cameron
Ewan Cameron, a former Camden councillor and local political campaigner, will be the Conservative representative in the by-election. Having secured fourth place in 2024, Cameron acknowledges that victory is a daunting prospect.
He expressed his commitment to the community, saying, “This is the community where I have lived, raised my family and call home,” stressing the need for focused political leadership in the constituency.
Workers Party: George Galloway
Leader of the Workers Party of Britain, George Galloway, is also contesting the by-election. Having founded the party in 2019, Galloway has served as an MP multiple times and recently overturned a Labour majority in a by-election in February. However, he lost that seat in the subsequent general election.
Galloway has consistently criticized British and US foreign policy, particularly their support for Ukraine, and remains a controversial figure in UK politics.
Restore Britain: Tyler Johnson
Rupert Lowe’s party Restore Britain has selected lawyer Tyler Johnson to compete in the by-election, despite publicly admitting they do not anticipate winning. The party attributes its electoral challenges to the issue of mass immigration.
Announcing his candidacy, Lowe said, “We are being honest with the voters about this election,” suggesting that the current political environment makes it difficult for their platform to resonate effectively.
Briony Kapoor – Rejoin EU Party
Briony Kapoor is standing as the Rejoin EU’s candidate, aiming to provide an alternative to what she sees as the uninspiring approaches of other parties concerning Europe. Kapoor emphasizes her long-term residency and local issues, promising a strong voice for European membership.
As the by-election approaches, the electoral dynamics within Holborn and St Pancras present a fascinating scenario, with significant implications for party leadership and future electoral strategies. Observers will be watching closely as results unfold, revealing constituents’ sentiments during a pivotal political moment.
