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London By-election: Labour Holds Starmer's Seat as Greens Surge
In the Holborn and St Pancras by-election on Oct 8, Labour's Sagal Abdi-Wali won with 45.1% of the vote, holding the seat vacated by former PM Keir Starmer; Green leader Zack Polanski surged to 32.8% on just 38.8% turnout.
Why it matters
This was the first parliamentary by-election under Prime Minister Andy Burnham and a key test of his popularity. Labour held the seat, but the Greens' 32.8% share signals a shifting electoral map in London.
Details
The by-election in Holborn and St Pancras was triggered when former Prime Minister Keir Starmer resigned his parliamentary seat on September 1. Labour candidate Sagal Abdi-Wali, leader of Camden Council and a former Somali refugee, won with 12,292 votes (45.1%).
Green Party leader Zack Polanski finished second with 8,928 votes (32.8%), dramatically narrowing the gap with Labour. The Conservatives took 7.1%, Reform UK 5.9%, and the Liberal Democrats 3.4%. Turnout was only 38.8%, far below the 54.1% recorded in the 2024 general election.
Background
Holborn and St Pancras is a traditional Labour stronghold in London, held by Starmer since 2015. The result is seen as a key indicator of whether the Greens can establish themselves as London's second party.
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