Labour candidate Sagal Abdi-Wali has won the Holborn and St Pancras by-election, defeating Green Party leader Zack Polanski in the contest triggered by former Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer's resignation as an MP. The 42-year-old, a former child refugee from Somalia, secured 12,292 votes (45.1%) against Polanski's 8,928 (32.8%), giving Labour a majority of 3,364.
Turnout was 38.76%, with 27,309 ballots cast, a significant drop from the 56,786 votes in the 2024 general election. The Conservative candidate Ewan Cameron came third with 1,922 votes, followed by Reform UK's Peter Newman on 1,612 and Liberal Democrat Patrick Stillman with 924.
Abdi-Wali's Victory Speech
In her winning speech, Abdi-Wali, who is also leader of Camden Council, said her victory was a testament to the success of diversity in the borough. She pledged to bring Thames Water into public ownership, tackle rough sleeping, and create more opportunities for young people.
“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 said.
Polanski's Reaction and Leadership Questions
Polanski, who had made the by-election a personal gamble, said he would not quit but acknowledged that it was now up to party members to decide if he continues as leader. Under Green Party rules, he faces a scheduled leadership election next year, with his position questioned following the party's anti-Zionist conference motion and the failure to oust Labour.
“That’s going to be up to the members and that’s going to be up to the leadership election that happens next summer,” he told Sky News. “What I’m experiencing, though, is an immense amount of people who are saying actually they’ve never been prouder to be a Green Party member.”
Broader Political Reactions
Labour Party chairwoman Bridget Phillipson said the result demonstrates that Labour's message is getting through. “I think it demonstrates that Labour's message of hope is really cutting through,” she told Times Radio. She also denied that the success would lead to an early general election, saying the next one is “some years away”.
Former Green Party leader Caroline Lucas refused to back Polanski, saying on BBC Newsnight: “Let's see what happens in the next in the coming days and weeks. I want him to speak now about what's happened. I want him to show the leadership that was frankly missing on Sunday. I think the jury is out about whether or not he will do that, but I very much hope he will.”
