Want to bookmark your favourite articles and stories to read or reference later? Start your Independent Membership today.
Join today
Already a member?
Log in
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.
Camden Council leader Sagal Abdi-Wali won with 12,292 votes, 45 per cent, while Mr Polanski came second with 8,928 at 33 per cent.
This marks a majority of 3,364 votes, or 12.4 per cent, for Labour – its lowest in the seat since it was created in 1983. But the 13 per cent swing from the party to the Greens was not enough to secure Mr Polanski victory.
Conservative candidate Ewan Cameron came in third, followed by Reform and the Lib Dems.
Mr Polanski has vowed to stay on as Green leader despite the result, telling press that he does not believe his candidacy was a mistake.
He added: “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.”
In her victory speech, Ms Abdi-Wali, who came to the UK as a child refugee from Somalia in the 1990s, spoke out against “those who seek to divide us,” in a possible response to Reform UK’s Zia Yusuf suggesting she was not British as she campaigned for the seat.
Ms Abdi-Wali said: “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.”
She added: “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.
“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.”
The incoming MP said she wanted to bring Thames Water into “public ownership”, tackle rough sleeping and create more opportunities for young people.
A Green Party spokesperson said: “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.”
“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.”
The result will come as a blow to Green Party members who were hoping to see a similar result to the Gorton and Denton by-election in February, when Hannah Spencer took the seat from Labour in a seismic result.
Mr Polanski has described the increased support for the Greens at the latest contest as a “foundation”, pointing out that it is the party’s second strongest by-election result (for vote share) after February’s victory.
As with any high-profile election, the contest attracted an above-average number of candidates to replace the recent prime minister. These included George Galloway – standing in his 14th Westminster contest – and the Monster Raving Loony Party’s bean-themed candidate Barmy Brunch.
Only four parties gained the five per cent of the vote needed to retain the £500 deposit needed to stand in the election. This means eleven had to forfeit their money – netting the government £5,500.
Here’s a breakdown of all the candidates, their vote count and share: