Full Breakdown
Labour Holds Holborn & St Pancras as Greens’ Momentum Stalls
By Drooid · · How we work
Core Event
On October 9, 2026 Labour candidate Sagal Abdi-Wali was declared MP for Holborn & St Pancras, defeating Green Party leader Zack Polanski. Abdi-Wali secured 12,292 votes (45 %), Polanski 8,928 votes (33 %), giving Labour a majority of 3,364. Turnout was reported between 38.6 % and 38.8 %.
Background & Context
The seat has been Labour-held since 1983, most recently by former Prime Minister Keir Starmer, who resigned as MP on July 20 2026 after losing the premiership. New Prime Minister Andy Burnham sought to win back left-wing voters who drifted to the Greens after Labour’s poor showing in the May 2024 local elections. The Greens entered the contest buoyed by a surge in membership and a record win in the Gorton & Denton by-election earlier in the year.
Data & Statistics
| Metric | Figure | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Labour votes | 12,292 | multiple outlets |
| Green votes | 8,928 | multiple outlets |
| Labour % | 45 % | multiple outlets |
| Green % | 33 % | multiple outlets |
| Majority | 3,364 | multiple outlets |
| Turnout | 38.6 %–38.8 % | BBC, Guardian, Reuters |
| Green vote-share increase vs. 2024 | +22 pp (10 %->~33 %) | BBC, Reuters |
| Swing Labour->Greens | 13 % | Reuters, Bloomberg |
Official Statements & Responses
Prime Minister Andy Burnham praised the result as a “fantastic campaign” and highlighted his government’s tougher stance on Israel and commitment to public ownership of utilities. Labour deputy leader Lucy Powell framed the win as evidence Labour is listening to progressive voters. Abdi-Wali, in her victory speech, linked her refugee background to the constituency’s diversity and pledged to pursue homelessness reduction and public ownership of Thames Water.
Criticism & Opposition
The Greens faced backlash over a Brighton conference motion defining Zionism as a form of racism and calling for a single democratic Palestinian state. Vivien Lichtenstein, chair of the Jewish Greens, called Polanski’s absence from the debate a “big mistake” and urged his resignation. Party insiders reported growing frustration and questioned Polanski’s leadership credibility after the defeat.
Conflicting Reports & Gaps
Turnout figures differ: BBC 38.6 %, Guardian 38.7 %, Reuters 38.8 %, AA 38.76 %. No source provides a definitive final figure. Most outlets agree the Green vote share rose by roughly 22 percentage points, with exact percentages varying between 32.7 % and 33 %.
Verbatim Quotes
- “I will fight for a water system that puts public interest first and gives people the confidence that essential services are being run for them,” — Sagal Abdi-Wali
These statements capture the perspectives of the new Labour MP on water policy.
Why It Matters
The result offers an early test of Burnham’s “left-wing bounce” and suggests Labour can reclaim voters lost to the Greens under Starmer. The Greens’ inability to turn a tripled vote share into a seat highlights the limits of protest voting and the electoral cost of internal controversy. The episode also shows how policy positions on Israel-Palestine can shape party dynamics in a constituency with a sizable young and diverse electorate.