Voters are heading to the polls in the Holborn and St Pancras by-election, with the result expected to be announced between 3am and 4am on Friday. The count will begin after polling stations close at 10pm on Thursday.
Labour's Favourite and Green Challenge
Labour's candidate, Camden Council leader Sagal Abdi-Wali, remains the favourite to win the north London seat that has been held by the party since its creation in 1983. Green Party leader Zack Polanski is hoping to secure a shock victory and win a place at Westminster.
The campaign intensified in recent days amid scrutiny of the Greens following their conference vote to designate Zionism as a form of racism, a move that sparked controversy and placed Mr Polanski's candidacy in the spotlight. The vote also led to Mr Polanski being barred from entering Israel.
Background to the By-Election
The by-election was triggered after Sir Keir Starmer stepped down as MP for the constituency last month, following his departure from Downing Street and the election of Andy Burnham as Labour leader and Prime Minister.
Cllr Abdi-Wali has served as leader of Camden Council since her predecessor, Richard Olszewski, lost his seat on the local authority to the Green Party. She described her campaign as being rooted in her experience of the borough and its diverse communities.
Expected Timing and Turnout
The time the result is known will be influenced by the size of the turnout. In the 2024 General Election vote in Holborn and St Pancras, the result was announced at 4.15am, with a turnout of 54.1%.
The last two by-elections in the UK saw turnouts of 44.1% in Clacton on August 13, 2026, when Nigel Farage regained his seat, and 58.8% in Makerfield on June 18, 2026, when Prime Minister Andy Burnham was elected MP.
