Full Breakdown
Labour Holds Holborn and St Pancras, Green Leader Zack Polanski Defeated
By Drooid · · How we work
Core Event
In the early-October 2026 parliamentary by-election for Holborn and St Pancras, Labour candidate Sagal Abdi-Wali was declared winner with 12,292 votes (?45 %). Green Party leader Zack Polanski came second with 8,928 votes (?33 %). Turnout was reported between 38.7 % and 38.8 %, lower than the 54 % recorded at the 2024 general election. The seat, held by Labour since 1983, remains in the party’s hands.
Background & Context
The vacancy arose after former Prime Minister Keir Starmer resigned his Commons seat in September 2026 following his removal as party leader on July 20. His successor, Prime Minister Andy Burnham, faced his first electoral test in this inner-London constituency, a traditional Labour stronghold now contested by a resurging Green Party.
Since September 2025, Polanski has steered the Greens toward a more radical, pro-Palestinian platform. At the party’s Brighton conference in early October, members adopted a motion equating Zionism with racism and calling for a single Palestinian state, passing 1,022 to 813.
Data & Statistics
- Labour: 12,292 (?45 %)
- Green: 8,928 (?33 %)
- Conservative: 1,922 (?7 %)
- Reform UK: 1,612 (?5.9 %)
- Turnout: 38.7 % (Guardian, Reuters) / 38.76 % (Independent)
- Green share rose from 10.4 % in 2024 to ?33 % – a 22-point swing.
- Party membership grew from roughly 60,000 to over 230,000 since Polanski’s election as leader.
Official Statements & Responses
Labour framed the win as evidence that Burnham’s “read the room” approach is restoring confidence among progressive voters.
Polanski said he would remain leader and noted that the Greens had “tripled our vote share” despite the loss, emphasizing that his campaign’s future does not hinge on a single result.
Criticism & Opposition
Jewish Greens chair Vivien Lichtenstein called for Polanski’s resignation, labeling his absence from the conference debate a “big mistake”.
On-the-Ground Reports
- “It’s very important to read the room, which I think the current Labour government is doing a lot better job at,” said tech worker Dani Arbid.
- “Nothing is set in stone, but some of the mainstream parties have over-promised and under-delivered… If you take an area like Camden, it could benefit from some of the fresher thinking that the Green Party offers,” observed local resident Kamran Ahmed.
Conflicting Reports & Gaps
Turnout figures differ slightly: the Guardian and Reuters cite 38.7 %, while the Independent reports 38.76 %. Vote totals are consistent, but the exact number of registered voters is not disclosed, leaving the precise turnout denominator unclear.
What’s Next
The Green Party’s leadership is due for re-election in less than a year, meaning Polanski will face party members again before the next general election. Burnham’s government is expected to continue its “Burnham bounce” strategy, with upcoming policy proposals on public ownership of utilities and rent controls likely to shape voter sentiment.