Sagal Abdi-Wali, a former child refugee from Somalia, has won the Holborn and St Pancras by-election for Labour, defeating Green Party leader Zack Polanski in the contest triggered by former prime minister Keir Starmer quitting as an MP.
Abdi-Wali, who has led Camden Council since May 2026, secured 12,292 votes against Polanski's 8,928. Turnout was 38.76%, with 27,309 ballots cast, a significant drop from the 56,786 votes recorded in the 2024 general election.
Controversy and Criticism
Before the result, Abdi-Wali faced criticism from Reform's Zia Yusuf over not being born in Britain, an attack Labour branded "straightforward racism". In an interview with the Mirror, she hit out at the "hateful rhetoric" around her selection and issued a defiant defence of immigration.
The result could spell disaster for Polanski's leadership, with Green popularity dipping after Andy Burnham regained some Labour voters who had lent their support.
Green Party Reaction and Fallout
Conceding before the verdict was announced, a Green Party spokesperson said: "It is clear now we will come a close second in this by-election. Taking the fight to Labour in one of its safest seats shows just how far the Greens have come. Voters want us to keep Labour's feet to the fire on affordable housing, public ownership of water and the climate crisis."
Polanski faces growing fallout after members endorsed a motion equating Zionism with racism. Vivien Lichtenstein, who chairs Jewish Greens, said she is considering leaving the party, while Sandy Ruthven, chairman of Amnesty UK, said the motion "marks the end of the line for me".
Just after polls closed, former Green leader Caroline Lucas refused to say if Polanski should resign over his handling of the motion. Appearing on Newsnight, she said: "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 he will do that - but I very much hope he will."
