# Labour holds Holborn and St Pancras as Greens finish second

> Sagal Abdi-Wali wins with 45% and a 3,364 majority, while Zack Polanski's second place finish offers the Green leader relief after a turbulent week.
- Title: Labour holds Holborn and St Pancras as Greens finish second
- Summary: Sagal Abdi-Wali wins with 45% and a 3,364 majority, while Zack Polanski's second place finish offers the Green leader relief after a turbulent week. Labour…
- Keywords: holborn and st pancras byelection, sagal abdi-wali, labour, zack polanski, green party, london, news, world, holds, Holborn, Pancras, Greens
- Source: the Guardian — https://theguardian.com/politics/2026/oct/09/holborn-st-pancras-byelection-greens-zack-polanski
- Published: 2026-10-09T06:40:54+00:00
- Read time: 2 min
- Topics: holborn and st pancras byelection, sagal abdi-wali, labour, zack polanski, green party, london, news, world
## Labour wins with modest turnout
Sagal Abdi-Wali won Holborn and St Pancras with just over forty-five percent of the vote and a majority of three thousand three hundred sixty-four. Turnout was thirty-eight point seven percent.
## A safe seat retained for Labour
Abdi-Wali held the constituency for Labour, which has controlled it since it was created in nineteen eighty-three. It was formerly held by Keir Starmer, the party's last leader.
## Polanski finishes second with strong showing
Green leader Zack Polanski came second with just under thirty-three percent of the vote, well above any other candidate except Abdi-Wali. The result suggests Greens could be competitive in similar seats.
## Greens divided over Israel policy
The party adopted a controversial policy on Zionism and Israel at its annual conference last weekend, equating Zionism with racism and calling for Israel to be replaced by a single Palestinian state.
## Four Green MPs publicly oppose new policy
Four of the party's five MPs publicly oppose the Israel policy. Numerous councillors have distanced themselves and a handful have resigned over the decision.
## Polanski's leadership questioned over stance
Polanski did not take a side on the policy and absented himself from Sunday's debate to campaign in the byelection. Some Greens termed this a failure of leadership.
## Polanski insists he will stay as leader
After the result, Polanski had to insist he intended to stay as Green leader. He faces re-election in a year from now under the party's policy of two-year terms for leaders.

> Yes absolutely, that's what leaders do
## Polanski avoids pressure from vote collapse
The Green vote did not collapse, meaning Polanski avoided intense pressure that could have ended his leadership. He must now reassure sceptics in the party before seeking re-election.
## Key takeaway

Labour retained Holborn and St Pancras with Sagal Abdi-Wali's victory, while Green leader Zack Polanski's second place finish avoided a collapse that could have ended his leadership.