'Deeply personal moment': Watch Sagal Abdi-Wali's by-election victory speech

The Holborn and St Pancras by-election took place on October 7, aiming to replace former Prime Minister Keir Starmer as the MP for this inner London seat. The main contenders were Labour’s incumbent candidate Sadiya Warsi (replaced later by Fatima Williams) and Green Party leader Zack Polanski. While Holborn and St Pancras has historically been a Labour stronghold since its formation in 1983, with Frank Dobson holding it for 32 years and Keir Starmer for 11, the race was unexpectedly tight.

Prime Minister Andy Burnham urged voters to support Labour’s current candidate Fatima Williams, emphasizing his party's commitment to addressing concerns such as rent controls and climate change. In contrast, Polanski highlighted issues like putting Thames Water into public ownership and opposing new drilling in the North Sea. The election saw a surge in Green Party membership and local council gains earlier in 2026, leading to speculation about whether this trend would extend to Westminster.

However, Polanski faced controversy when the Green Party conference passed a motion asserting that "Zionism is racism," though he later stated his opposition to exclusion based on religious or communal affiliations. Despite this contentious week, polls opened with both sides claiming the race was close, reflecting significant support for the Greens in recent local elections and the broader appeal of environmental issues among voters. The result could define Polanski’s leadership of the Green Party and challenge Labour's long-standing dominance in the constituency.