In a north London by-election, Labour candidate Alisha Abdi won with 45% of the vote, followed closely by Green Party leader Sian Polanski at 33%. Despite losing, Polanski vowed to continue leading the Greens, emphasizing his party's increased support and promising to hold Labour accountable on issues like rent control and climate change. The article highlights a significant swing towards the Greens, with their vote share rising by 22.4%, while noting internal divisions within the Green Party over an anti-Zionism motion passed at their conference.
Written locally by qwen2.5:14b on 2026-10-09,
using this article's own text rather than the other coverage of the
same event (that is the story summary below).
Story summary
The Holborn and St Pancras by-election in London was held on October 5 to replace former Prime Minister Keir Starmer, who resigned from his seat. The race is seen as a critical test for Labour Party leader Andy Burnham's ability to regain voter support after recent losses, especially among left-wing voters due to the war in Gaza. The main contenders are Labour candidate Daniella Abdi-Wali and Green Party leader Zack Polanski, with Polanski hoping to break Labour’s long-standing hold on the seat, which has been a Labour stronghold since 1983.
Leading up to the election, both candidates engaged in intense campaigning. Prime Minister Burnham issued an appeal for voters to support Abdi-Wali, stating that "today, hope can win. But only if you vote for it." Meanwhile, Polanski claimed the contest was "close" and urged voters to elect a Green representative to push Labour on issues like rent controls and public ownership of Thames Water.
Polanski's campaign faced significant challenges after his party passed a controversial motion at its conference in Brighton declaring that "Zionism is racism," which he abstained from voting on. This move has drawn criticism and raised concerns about inclusivity within the Green Party, although Polanski later clarified that he does not support excluding anyone based on religious or communal affiliations.
The by-election results could have far-reaching implications for both Labour and the Green Party, potentially defining Polanski’s leadership of the Greens following their surge in membership and record-breaking local election results earlier in 2026. Despite these challenges, Polanski remains optimistic about his prospects, emphasizing the need for a Green voice to address critical issues such as climate change and housing affordability.
Written for “Holborn And St Pancras By-election” on 2026-10-09,
grounded in this article and the 32 other(s) covering the same event.
Why this leaning score
The model judged this article politically coded and scored it -0.65, but all 4 of its quote(s) are attributed speech - words the article quotes from someone, not the article's own narration, so the score is not published.
Written under an earlier scoring contract, which gave a paragraph
rather than checkable quotes. Re-analysing this article replaces it.
Leaning score withheld for article 67557: attributed speech only · logged 2026-10-09
She secured 45% of the vote to the Greens’ 33%, a majority of 3,364 but seeing a 13% swing to the Greens, whose vote share was up by 22.4%.
asserted
share → secure → %
“Of course I can carry on as leader of the Green Party,” he said when asked about a potential threat to his leadership after the loss.
asserted
he → carry → loss
“Of course, I wanted to win.
asserted
I → want → ?
No-one runs an election to lose,” he said, but added that people on the doorstep had been excited about his plans for rent controls, tackling the climate crisis and nationalising Thames Water.
asserted
people → run → Water
“Of course, we didn’t get over the line, but the point here is that ultimately, I want to make sure those were the options that people have.
asserted
people → get → that
“So many people told me on the doorstep, so they want to give Andy Burnham a chance.
asserted
they → tell → chance
Well, he’s got a chance now.
asserted
he → get → chance
Let’s see what he does with it.”
asserted
he → see → it
A former Green leader earlier suggested Mr Polanski could face a threat to his leadership if he lost.
uncertain
he → suggest → leadership
Caroline Lucas, the three-time former Green Party leader who was its first MP, said people should “see what happens in the coming days and weeks” when asked about his future the previous evening on BBC Newsnight.
asserted
what → say → Newsnight
Read More
She pointed to Mr Polanski’s failure to take part in the controversial anti-Zionism motion on Sunday, saying he “should have been there and he should have voted”.
asserted
he → read → Sunday
Mr Polanski did not directly answer when asked if he believed that Zionism is racism after the by-election result, but said: “The displacement of the Palestinian people, the genocide is clearly racist.”
asserted
displacement → answer → people
He denied he had lost control of his party.
“I don’t think that’s true at all.
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that → deny → party
I’ve got a party that was 55,000, 60,000 members when I was running for leader, it’s now 220,000.
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it → get → leader
We’re a democratic grassroots party.”
asserted
We → ’re → ?
The adoption of the motion at the party’s conference makes it policy, despite the opposition of Ms Lucas and four of the party’s five MPs, but it does not mean it will necessarily appear in the future manifesto.
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it → make → manifesto
The north London constituency has been a Labour stronghold since its formation in 1983, held by Frank Dobson for 32 years and Sir Keir for 11.
Conservative candidate Ewan Cameron came in third in the by-election, followed by Reform and the Lib Dems.
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Cameron → hold → Reform
The Greens conceded ahead of the official declaration but said the “huge swing” was an “incredible result”.
asserted
swing → concede → declaration
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.
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ideas → say → establishment
We are here to stay and just getting started.
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We → stay → ?
“The voters have delivered a message to the Labour Government today.
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voters → deliver → Government
They want real change; they want rent controls, they want to see an end to the privatised water rip-off; and they want to see justice for Palestinians.
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they → want → Palestinians
“On the climate crisis, Labour will not have an easy political ride if they bring in new North Sea drilling.”
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they → have → drilling
Ms Abdi-Wali said her victory was a testament to the success of diversity in the borough.
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victory → say → borough
“I hope this moment also says something about who gets to belong, for people who look like me, I hope they see themselves reflected in this place and know that their path too belongs here.
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path → hope → place
She added: “I’ve watched people across Camden work to build communities where difference is not something to fear, but something to value.
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difference → add → communities
We cannot allow that work, built over generations, to be casually undone by those who seek to divide us.
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who → allow → us
“We have a responsibility to defend what we’ve built, and pass it on.
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we → have → it
“People need to believe that politics can make their lives better and that their communities can thrive and that tomorrow can be better than today.”
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tomorrow → need → today
She added: “That is what this victory represents.
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victory → add → what
Winning not by making people afraid of each other, but by bringing people together.”
asserted
people → win → people
The Aporia
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