Labour Defeats Green Party Challenge in High-Stakes London By-Election

Labour candidate Sagal Abdi-Wali smiled on the day of the results in the Holborn and St Pancras by-election, triggered by the resignation of former Prime Minister Keir Starmer as MP for Holborn and St Pancras, in London, UK, October 9, 2026. The Labour Party has successfully secured a parliamentary seat previously held by former leader Keir Starmer, turning away a strong challenge from the left-wing Green Party and delivering a much-needed boost to the British prime minister.

Labour candidate Sagal Abdi-Wali, who also serves as the leader of the local council, claimed the seat in the central London constituency of Holborn and St Pancras by securing 12,292 votes. Zack Polanski, the leader of the Green Party, finished in second place with 8,928 votes.

This expected victory provides a significant lift to Prime Minister Andy Burnham, who was recently brought into power by lawmakers worried that Keir Starmer’s declining popularity would pave the way for a populist Reform UK party surge in the upcoming national election. Having previously lost left-wing supporters to the Greens earlier in the year, Labour appears to have successfully brought many voters back into the fold. However, the outcome has sparked renewed questions regarding the leadership of Zack Polanski, who had previously pledged to transform his party into an eco-populist movement.

Zack Polanski, aged 43, had managed to draw certain voters away from Labour prior to Andy Burnham taking office, contributing to an increase in Green MPs from one in 2023 to five currently. Despite this growth, Zack Polanski faced heavy criticism following a party conference where members passed a controversial motion declaring Zionism to be racism. The decision, which advocated for the creation of a single democratic Palestinian State across historic Palestine, drew sharp rebukes from Jewish organizations, rival political parties, and the majority of Green Party lawmakers. Zack Polanski chose not to cast a vote on the motion.

Labour has maintained control of the Holborn seat ever since its creation in 2023. Following her victory, Labour’s Sagal Abdi-Wali—who moved to the United Kingdom as a child refugee escaping from Somalia—described her win as a clear defeat for individuals attempting to create division.

"We have a responsibility to defend what we’ve built and pass it on," she stated. Once conceding defeat, Zack Polanski addressed his critics by confirming his intention to remain as leader while characterizing the electoral outcome as merely part of "Andy Burnham’s honeymoon." While congratulating Sagal Abdi-Wali, Zack Polanski noted that one in three voters supported their campaign, with many others giving it serious consideration.

Shifts in voter behavior have been heavily influenced by Israel’s war on Gaza. The Green Party experienced a surge during the 2024 general election due to holding stances far more critical of Israel's actions than any other political party. During that election, Keir Starmer secured the seat with 49 percent of the vote, while independent pro-Palestine candidate Andrew Feinstein finished second with 19 percent. Zack Polanski successfully expanded the progressive vote while reducing the Labour vote tally.