Labour's Sagal Abdi-Wali has won the Holborn and St Pancras by-election, securing 45 per cent of the vote and defeating Green Party leader Zack Polanski, who came second with 33 per cent. The by-election was triggered by the resignation of former Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer, who had represented the constituency since 2015.
Ms Abdi-Wali, who has led Camden Council for four months, said she would "relentlessly fight to be a voice" for the borough and pledged to tackle homelessness. The turnout was 38.8 per cent, with Mr Polanski losing by a 12-point margin.
Greens Concede Defeat Before Declaration
The Green Party conceded defeat 30 minutes before the result was declared, and Mr Polanski exited the building shortly after the announcement, having given one brief pooled interview. He had stood as a candidate with the hope of becoming the Greens' sixth MP.
This was the seventh parliamentary by-election since the July 2024 general election, but the first in London. The contest was seen as a key test for Mr Polanski, whose campaign was overshadowed by his party passing a controversial motion that defined Zionism as "racism".
Abdi-Wali's Priorities and Background
Cllr Abdi-Wali told the Local Democracy Reporting Service (LDRS) she would prioritise bringing more opportunities for young people and eradicating homelessness "from day one". She added that she stood to become MP because of what she saw during her brief tenure as council leader, and that this experience would make her a stronger representative in the House of Commons.
Her ascension to the council leadership came amid significant losses for Labour in the May elections, which saw her local party lose 17 seats but keep control of the borough. Prior to the May elections, she was Camden's Cabinet Member for Better Homes.
Ms Abdi-Wali first came to Camden as a child refugee fleeing war-torn Somalia. She later became involved in local politics and was elected to the council in 2022. In May, the party selected her to succeed Richard Olszewski, who lost his seat in the Holborn and Covent Garden ward at the local elections after switching seats.
Other Parties and Context
The Conservatives came in third with 1,922 votes, followed by Reform UK with 1,612. The Liberal Democrats trailed in fifth with 924 votes. Labour insiders attributed their candidate's victory to their "positive" and localised campaign, though the LDRS spoke to one activist who admitted she had been careful throughout the race.
The Labour victory comes amid a poll bounce for the party since Andy Burnham replaced Sir Keir Starmer as Prime Minister. Despite insisting that he would stay on as MP, Sir Keir triggered the by-election in September when he resigned.
The Greens said they had achieved a "huge swing in one of Labour's safest seats", having boosted their vote share by 22 per cent since the General Election 2024. A party spokesperson said: "We are disappointed to miss out tonight, but any ideas of a return to the cosy two-party system is just wishful thinking on the part of the establishment."
Mr Polanski previously told the LDRS he would resign his London Assembly seat if he were to win the election. The result leaves the Green Party without a seat in the constituency, while Labour retains its stronghold in the area.
