The dust has settled in north London, and Labour has secured a crucial win in the Holborn and St Pancras byelection. Candidate Sagal Abdi-Wali, the leader of Camden council, clinched the seat with 12,292 votes, comfortably beating Green Party leader Zack Polanski, who walked away with 8,928. The seat opened up after former prime minister Keir Starmer resigned in September.
The context
This wasn't just another local vote; it was a vibe check for Prime Minister Andy Burnham. The results provide some much-needed relief for his administration, suggesting he’s clawing back public support that dipped during the Starmer era. But it wasn't a total breeze—the turnout was a low 38.7%, dropping over 15% from the 2024 general election.
Why the Greens are hurting
For the Green Party, this loss is just the cherry on top of a messy week. They’ve been dealing with internal drama after a controversial conference vote declaring Zionism a form of racism—a move that left even their own leadership looking shaky. Zack Polanski, the Green candidate, caught heat for missing the debate on that motion to focus on the campaign. When pressed by former leader Caroline Lucas on whether Polanski should resign, she didn't offer a vote of confidence, demanding more leadership than what we saw on Sunday.
The fallout
There was some real talk during the race, too. Labour accused Reform UK’s Zia Yusuf of racism after he suggested Abdi-Wali, who arrived in the UK as a child refugee from Somalia in the 90s, was being "foisted" on voters and questioned her British identity. Meanwhile, George Galloway showed up on the ballot from "self-exile" but only grabbed 314 votes.
Why it matters
This victory is a W for Burnham, proving Labour can still hold its ground in urban strongholds even when the political climate is giving chaos. For the Greens, the L is a reality check as they grapple with internal identity crises and sliding poll numbers.
