Story perspectives

Labour Wins Holborn and St Pancras By-Election, Greens Lose

By Drooid · Oct 9, 2026, 11:21 PM UTC · How we work

Summary

Story summary

Labour candidate Sagal Abdi-Wali won the Holborn and St Pancras by-election, defeating Green leader Zack Polanski on 8 October 2026.
Abdi-Wali received 12,292 votes and Polanski earned 8,928.
Turnout was 38.8 % of 27,309 registered voters.
The Greens’ loss was linked to their new “Zionism is racism” policy, criticized by Jewish groups and European Greens.
German Green co-leaders Felix Banaszak and Jutta Ditfurth called the motion intolerable, warning of possible European Green Party suspension.

History

Historical Context

The UN General Assembly adopted Resolution 3379 on 10 November 1975, condemning Zionism as racism with 72 votes for, 35 against and 32 abstentions. After intense diplomatic pressure, the UN revoked it by Resolution 46/86 on 16 December 1991. In 2024 the Green Party of England and Wales revived the controversy, prompting German politicians Felix Banaszak and Jutta Ditfurth to denounce the motion.

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Story summary

Labour candidate Sagal Abdi-Wali won the Holborn and St Pancras by-election, defeating Green leader Zack Polanski on 8 October 2026.
Abdi-Wali received 12,292 votes and Polanski earned 8,928.
Turnout was 38.8 % of 27,309 registered voters.
The Greens’ loss was linked to their new “Zionism is racism” policy, criticized by Jewish groups and European Greens.
German Green co-leaders Felix Banaszak and Jutta Ditfurth called the motion intolerable, warning of possible European Green Party suspension.

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