From POLITICO · · 1m
Zack Polanski loses Westminster seat
Green leader Zack Polanski loses Holborn by-election to Labour's Sagal Abdi-Wali.
In brief
Green leader Zack Polanski loses Holborn by-election to Labour's Sagal Abdi-Wali. Green Party's Zack Polanski lost the Holborn and St Pancras by-election to Labour's Sagal Abdi-Wali with 8,928 votes to 12,292. Originally reported by POLITICO.
By-election result
Labour's Sagal Abdi-Wali won Holborn and St Pancras with 12,292 votes, a majority of 3,364 over Green leader Zack Polanski's 8,928.
By-election context
The poll followed Keir Starmer stepping down as MP after being ousted as UK prime minister.
Labour's shift
Andy Burnham, Starmer's replacement, has moved Labour left and strengthened UK stance on Israel.
Green Party gamble
Polanski aimed to gain parliamentary foothold to boost Green Party profile but lost.
“I’ve taken a loss tonight, but our movement is so much bigger than one election or one motion.”
Green dissent
Green Party members passed a motion labeling Zionism as racism, causing internal conflict.
Next steps
Polanski says Labour's shift to Green positions boosted his party's chances but lost the seat.
“We’ve now got a different prime minister who is in a honeymoon, who is talking a lot of the language I’ve been talking about for the past year.”
What matters most
Green Party's Zack Polanski lost the Holborn and St Pancras by-election to Labour's Sagal Abdi-Wali with 8,928 votes to 12,292.
