Labour has secured a decisive victory in the Holborn and St Pancras by-election, with Sagal Abdi-Wali winning the seat previously held by Sir Keir Starmer. The result, declared in the early hours of the morning, delivers a boost to Labour’s wider standing but presents a significant challenge for Green Party leader Zack Polanski, who finished second.
Ms Abdi-Wali, who also leads Camden Council, secured 12,292 votes, marking her as the new Member of Parliament for the north London constituency. Her win reinforces Labour’s position in what has historically been a safe seat for the party.
For Zack Polanski, the by-election had been viewed as a potentially defining moment for his leadership. Despite mounting a significant campaign in his home seat, Mr Polanski garnered 8,928 votes. His second-place finish has led to questions regarding his tenure as Green Party leader.
In the immediate aftermath of the declaration, Mr Polanski expressed defiance concerning his future. Speaking to reporters, he stated, “Of course I'm going to carry on as leader of the Green Party.”
However, pressure on Mr Polanski extends beyond the by-election result. He has faced scrutiny following a controversial Green Party conference motion declaring 'Zionism is racism'. Addressing the motion publicly for the first time after his loss, Mr Polanski told GB News: “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. And 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 questioned about support for a two-state solution, he added: “I believe that it's not our role to decide, but what I do believe is that any state should have equal rights, and that shouldn't be based on faith or religion. That should be based on international human law and upholding equal rights for everyone.”
The by-election defeat and the ongoing party controversy have led to wider discussions about Mr Polanski's leadership capabilities. Caroline Lucas, a three-time former Green Party leader and its first MP, offered a cautious assessment of his future when asked on BBC Newsnight. She suggested that people should “see what happens in the coming days and weeks” regarding his potential stepping down.
In her victory speech, Sagal Abdi-Wali highlighted the success of diversity within the borough, stating, “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.”
Ms Abdi-Wali outlined several policy priorities, including her intention to advocate for Thames Water to be brought into public ownership, address rough sleeping, and create more opportunities for young people. She also emphasised the importance of community cohesion, remarks which were applauded by the losing Green Party candidate, Zack Polanski.
“In Camden, our diversity is a strength and our cohesion has been too hard won to take for granted,” Ms Abdi-Wali said. “We cannot allow that work, built over generations, to be casually undone by those who seek to divide us. We have a responsibility to defend what we’ve built, and pass it on. Hope is not naive. Without hope there is nothing to build on, and nothing to build for. People need to believe that politics can make their lives better and that their communities can thrive and that tomorrow can be better than today.”
A spokesperson for the Green Party described the outcome as an “incredible result” for the party, despite Mr Polanski’s loss. They noted a “huge swing” and an increase of 22 per cent in vote share since the last general election in what they characterised as one of Labour’s safest seats. The spokesperson added that the party was "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."
The Green Party spokesperson also indicated that voters had sent a message to the Labour government, advocating for "real change" including rent controls, an end to privatised water, and justice for Palestinians. They warned that Labour would "not have an easy political ride" if they pursued new North Sea drilling.
Beyond the top two parties, the Conservative candidate, Ewan Cameron, achieved a vote share of over 7 per cent, performing better than anticipated. This placed the Conservatives ahead of Reform UK, whose candidate Peter Newman secured 5.92 per cent of the vote. This outcome is noted as a potential sign of changing fortunes for the Conservatives under Kemi Badenoch’s leadership, contrasting with recent dips in support for Reform UK.
The turnout for the Holborn and St Pancras by-election was 38.76 per cent. This figure is relatively low compared to the 47.62 per cent turnout observed in the Gorton and Denton by-election in February, where the Green Party’s Hannah Spencer won the seat from Labour.
