Labour defeats Green leader Zack Polanski in Holborn by-election

Labour candidate Sagal Abdi-Wali has won the Holborn and St Pancras by-election in London, defeating Green Party leader Zack Polanski, the Daily Mail and the Guardian reported. Abdi-Wali received 12,292 votes to Polanski's 8,928, according to the Guardian. The by-election was called after former prime minister Keir Starmer resigned the seat in September. [1][3][4]

Turnout for the contest was 38.7 per cent, the Guardian reported. The Daily Mail reported that Polanski finished more than 3,000 votes behind Abdi-Wali. Asked if he intended to remain as Green Party leader following the result, Polanski told reporters, "Yes, absolutely, that is what leaders do." [1][4]

The loss follows controversy over a motion passed by Green Party members at their annual conference in Brighton declaring Zionism a form of racism, the BBC reported. Former Green Party leader Caroline Lucas told the BBC that Polanski, who did not attend the debate, should have been there and voted. Activists in Camden suggested the motion cost the Greens votes in the by-election, according to the Guardian. [2][3]

As FTMQ News reported earlier, senior Labour figures previously ruled out future cooperation with the Greens after the policy vote. Polanski has led the Green Party of England and Wales since September 2025 and has served as a member of the London Assembly since May 2021. [10][14][15]