Labour's Sagal Abdi-Wali wins the Holborn and St Pancras by-election, defeating Green leader Zack Polanski
Summary
Voters in the north London constituency of Holborn and St Pancras went to the polls on Thursday 8 October in a by-election to replace Sir Keir Starmer, who resigned from the House of Commons last month, choosing among 15 candidates in London's most closely watched political contest of the year. Labour's Sagal Abdi-Wali, described by the Evening Standard as the overwhelming favourite, defended a seat that has been a Labour stronghold since its formation in 1983 against Green Party leader Zack Polanski, in a contest The Guardian saw as a test of Andy Burnham's ability to unite Labour voters. After the Greens conceded, saying Polanski had come a 'close second', Abdi-Wali won with a majority of 3,364, with a 13% swing from Labour to the Greens, according to the Evening Standard, in the fourth major by-election of 2026 and the first under Andy Burnham's premiership, the Manchester Evening News noted. Abdi-Wali said her victory was a testament to diversity and that she hoped it meant people 'like her' would feel they belong in Britain.
Latest: Labour's Sagal Abdi-Wali won the Holborn and St Pancras by-election with a majority of 3,364 after the Greens conceded that Polanski had come a 'close second', and said her victory was a testament to diversity.
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How it unfolded
Friday 9 October
Labour's Sagal Abdi-Wali won the Holborn and St Pancras by-election with a majority of 3,364 after the Greens conceded that Polanski had come a 'close second', and said her victory was a testament to diversity.
- 00:10The IndependentSagal Abdi-Wali says Labour by-election victory is testament to diversity
- 00:01Evening StandardSagal Abdi-Wali says Labour by-election victory is testament to diversity
Thursday 8 October
Polls closed at 10pm in the Holborn and St Pancras by-election, with Labour's Sagal Abdi-Wali defending the seat against Green Party leader Zack Polanski, as Labour and the Greens awaited the declaration.
- 23:20Evening StandardSagal Abdi-Wali says Labour byelection victory is testament to diversity
- 23:20The IndependentSagal Abdi-Wali says Labour byelection victory is testament to diversity
- 22:55Evening StandardLabour retains Starmer’s Holborn seat defeating Green leader Zack Polanski
- 22:09Manchester Evening NewsLabour wins Holborn and St Pancras by-election after Keir Starmer's resignation
- 22:06Evening StandardHolborn and St Pancras by-election result in full: How many votes did Zack Polanski get?
- 22:03The GuardianLabour fends off Green party to win Holborn and St Pancras byelection
- 22:00The IndependentGreens concede in Holborn by-election, saying Polanski came ‘close second’
- 21:53Evening StandardGreens concede in Holborn by-election, saying Polanski came ‘close second’
- 20:50The IndependentCounting begins in Holborn and St Pancras as Polanski could come under pressure
- 20:43Evening StandardCounting begins in Holborn and St Pancras as Polanski could come under pressure
- 17:38The IndependentHolborn and St Pancras by-election result live: Polanski hoping to win Starmer’s old seat as polls close
- 17:30The IndependentPolls close in by-election to replace Keir Starmer as Holborn and St Pancras MP
- 17:23Evening StandardPolls close in by-election to replace Keir Starmer as Holborn and St Pancras MP
- 17:22The GuardianPolls close in Holborn and St Pancras byelection as Labour hopes to retain seat
- 17:04Evening StandardHolborn and St Pancras by-election result: Labour and Greens anxiously await crunch London vote declaration
- 04:41Evening StandardHolborn and St Pancras by-election: Who are the candidates?
- 03:59The IndependentWhat time is the Holborn and St Pancras by-election announced and is there an exit poll?
- 02:17The IndependentHolborn and St Pancras by-election underway as Andy Burnham faces major test
- 02:11Evening StandardWhen will we know the result of the Holborn and St Pancras by-election?
- 02:10The IndependentVoters go to polls to replace Starmer in Holborn and St Pancras by-election
- 02:09The IndependentHolborn and St Pancras by-election live: Voting opens in big test for Burnham against Polanski in Starmer’s old seat
- 02:04Evening StandardVoters go to polls to replace Starmer in Holborn and St Pancras by-election
- 02:00BBC NewsHolborn and St Pancras by-election gets under way
Wednesday 7 October
The Evening Standard described Labour's Sagal Abdi-Wali as the overwhelming favourite, saying a victory for Polanski would be a political earthquake in London.
- 19:10The IndependentVoters go to the polls to replace Starmer in Holborn and St Pancras by-election
- 19:01Evening StandardHolborn and St Pancras by-election: Andy Burnham issues last minute appeal to voters as Zack Polanski claims contest ‘close’
- 19:01Evening StandardVoters go to the polls to replace Starmer in Holborn and St Pancras by-election
- 05:51Evening StandardWhen is the Holborn and St Pancras by-election? Polling day looms in Labour-Green showdown
- 04:59Evening StandardWho will win the Holborn and St Pancras by-election?
Tuesday 6 October
The Independent called the contest a major test for both Green Party leader Zack Polanski and new Labour leader Andy Burnham, with constituents divided ahead of Thursday's vote.