Sagal Abdi-Wali wins Holborn and St Pancras by-election for Labour

Labour candidate Sagal Abdi-Wali has secured victory in the Holborn and St Pancras by-election, holding the seat previously vacated by former Prime Minister Keir Starmer.

Abdi-Wali, the leader of Camden Council, won the central London seat with 12,292 votes, representing 45% of the total. She defeated Green Party leader Zack Polanski, who finished in second place with 8,928 votes. The Guardian reported that turnout was 38.7%, the lowest for any by-election in England during this parliament.

In her victory speech, Abdi-Wali described the win as a defeat for "those who seek to divide us" and expressed hope that her presence in Parliament would allow others who look like her to see themselves reflected in the institution. A former child refugee from Somalia, she noted how the borough had given her family a home and shaped her life.

The result was seen as a significant test for Prime Minister Andy Burnham, who succeeded Starmer. Al Jazeera reported that the victory provides a "deep sigh of relief" for Labour, suggesting the party has recovered some support previously lost to the Greens. Labour chair Bridget Phillipson told Times Radio the win shows the party's "message of hope" is reaching voters.

Despite the loss, Polanski described the result as part of a "honeymoon" for the new Prime Minister and confirmed he would stay on as leader. His campaign had faced internal pressure following a recent party conference motion declaring Zionism as racism, a move Al Jazeera noted was criticized by Jewish groups and most Green lawmakers. Polanski did not participate in that vote.

Background

The by-election was called after former Prime Minister Keir Starmer resigned from the seat in September. In the 2024 general election, Starmer won the constituency with 49% of the vote, while pro-Palestine independent Andrew Feinstein finished in second place.