Archive · 9 Oct 2026
Labour Holds Starmer’s Former Seat as Greens Challenge
Labour won a special election in Holborn and St Pancras.
Sagal Abdi-Wali received more votes than Green Party leader Zack Polanski.
The seat had been held by former prime minister Keir Starmer.
The result is an early boost for Prime Minister Andy Burnham and Labour.
But one election cannot show whether Labour will win back similar voters in other places.
Polanski said he would stay on as Green Party leader.
He has faced questions about a party motion on Zionism and Israel.
Former Green leader Caroline Lucas said he should speak clearly about what happened.
Burnham is due to present his first budget on October 28.
Labour’s Sagal Abdi-Wali won Holborn and St Pancras with 12,292 votes.
Green Party leader Zack Polanski finished second with 8,928 votes and said he would remain leader.
The result gives Prime Minister Andy Burnham an early electoral boost, though it does not show whether Labour’s recovery will continue elsewhere.
Polanski faced questions about a Green Party conference motion calling Zionism racism; he did not vote on it.
Former Green leader Caroline Lucas called for Polanski to address the controversy, while he urged the party to focus on Burnham’s first budget.
- Who
- Labour candidate Sagal Abdi-Wali and Green Party leader Zack Polanski contested the seat.
- What
- Abdi-Wali won the Holborn and St Pancras by-election with 12,292 votes; Polanski received 8,928.
- When
- Friday (9); the article does not specify the year.
- Where
- Holborn and St Pancras, central London.
- Why
- The election followed Keir Starmer vacating the seat; the result was also viewed as an early test of Andy Burnham’s appeal.
Critics of the motion
Polanski’s stated position
Green Party motion on Zionism
Critics of the motion
Labour chair Bridget Phillipson said the motion declaring Zionism racism held British Jews to a different standard; the motion also drew criticism from Jewish groups, other parties and most Green MPs.
Polanski’s stated position
Polanski said the displacement of Palestinians and what he described as the ongoing genocide in Gaza were racist. He did not vote on the motion, which called for a single democratic Palestinian state across historic Palestine.
Polanski’s leadership
Critics of the motion
Caroline Lucas said she wanted Polanski to speak about the motion and show leadership, and declined to give him an unequivocal endorsement.
Polanski’s stated position
Polanski conceded the by-election but said he would remain Green Party leader.
Meaning of Labour’s win
Critics of the motion
The result gives Labour reassurance that it may regain voters who had shifted to the Greens, but does not establish that this change will continue elsewhere.
Polanski’s stated position
Polanski called the result part of Burnham’s “honeymoon” and said the Greens should judge the government by whether its budget meets voters’ expectations.
- Winning candidate
- Sagal Abdi-Wali (Labour)
- Abdi-Wali votes
- 12,292
- Runner-up
- Zack Polanski (Green Party)
- Polanski votes
- 8,928
- Constituency
- Holborn and St Pancras, central London
- Previous MP
- Keir Starmer, who vacated the seat in September
- Upcoming budget
- Andy Burnham’s first budget is scheduled for October 28