Voters Head to Polls in Starmer's Old Seat: Labour vs. Greens

Voters in Holborn and St Pancras are heading to the polls today to elect a new Member of Parliament, following Keir Starmer's recent departure from the House of Commons ^[1]. The contest pits Labour's Sagal Abdi-Wali against Green Party leader Zack Polanski in what is shaping up to be a closely watched by-election.

Sagal Abdi-Wali, a former child refugee from Somalia, is Labour's candidate for the long-held Labour stronghold. The seat has been consistently red since its creation in 1983, with Starmer holding it for 11 years and Frank Dobson for 32 years before him ^[1].

Green Party leader Zack Polanski is hoping to cause an upset. His party has seen a significant increase in membership and achieved record results in the May 2026 local elections, gaining over 440 councillors ^[1]. However, recent polls suggest a dip in Green popularity, with some Labour voters returning to their traditional party.

Polanski's campaign has also navigated a challenging period after the Green Party's conference in Brighton passed a contentious motion declaring that “Zionism is racism” ^[1]. Polanski himself abstained from the vote, later stating he would not tolerate exclusion based on religious or communal affiliation.

Despite Labour sources expressing confidence, they remain cautious, acknowledging Polanski's profile could influence the outcome. Andy Burnham has endorsed Abdi-Wali, highlighting her commitment to the local area where she found a home as a refugee ^[1].

Keir Starmer, who won the seat in 2024 with 48.9% of the vote, announced last month he would step down as an MP to focus on international affairs. He had previously indicated he would remain in Parliament until the next general election, expected in 2029 ^[1].

Thirteen other candidates are also vying for the seat, including the Conservatives' Ewan Cameron, Reform UK's Peter Newman, and the Liberal Democrats' Patrick Thomas Stillman. George Galloway of the Workers Party of Britain is also running, despite residing overseas ^[1]. Polls close at 10 pm tonight, with the count taking place overnight. The story was first reported by Mirror.