Holborn and St Pancras by-election - live: Polls close as Labour and Greens go head-to-head in Starmer's ex-seat

Holborn and St Pancras by-election - live: Polls close as Labour and Greens go head-to-head in Starmer's ex-seat Voters are today casting their ballots in the Holborn and St Pancras by-election to elect a new MP in Keir Starmer's old seat - follow live updates as polls close at 10pm Voters are today casting their ballots in the race to elect a new MP in Keir Starmer's old seat. Labour's candidate Sagal Abdi-Wali, a former child refugee from Somalia, is battling it out with Green Leader Zack Polanski in the Holborn and St Pancras by-election in London. Polls will close at 10pm on Thursday, with ballots to be counted overnight. It could be a defining moment for Mr Polanski’s leadership of the party, which has seen a surge in membership and record-breaking results in the May 2026 local elections, gaining more than 440 councillors and gaining control of five councils. Ahead of polls opening on Thursday, he admitted the by-election race is “looking close”. Labour sources are understood to be confident, but not complacent, with insiders aware that Mr Polanski's profile could sway the race. Follow live updates below... Key Events North London seat a Labour stronghold for decades The north London seat has been a Labour Party stronghold since its creation the 1980s. It was represented by ex-Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer from 2015 to 2026. Before that it was held by Frank Dobson for a whopping 32 years. Majorities in the seat have varied from highs of 70 per cent of the vote share to lows of 43 per cent. Green Party statement 'does not read like a party expecting to win' A Green Party Spokesperson has issued a statement as polls close, and it does not read like a party expecting to win, says The Mirror's Alexander Brown. It says: “Whatever the result later, we’ve run a positive campaign full of energy in what is one of Labour’s safest seats. “To be the main challenger shows how far the Greens have come. “Whether we win or lose, this evening, keeping the pressure on the Labour government to deliver on these priorities will be our focus.” Praise heaped on Labour candidate as polls close The Deputy Labour leader Lucy Powell MP has praised tribute to Sagal Abdi-Wali as polls close. In a statement, she said: “Sagal came to Britain as a child refugee, fleeing a war-torn country. Educated in great Labour Camden schools, she’s been giving back to her local community ever since. “Sagal has campaigned positively on her plans to move Camden forwards, by ending rough sleeping, taking on vested interests in the water industry, and ensuring every young person has the opportunity they need to thrive. “If the voters of Holborn and St. Pancras put their trust in Labour, I know that Sagal will work hard every day to make life better for each and every person across the constituency.” Long night ahead in Holborn and St Pancras The Mirror's Assistant Political Editor Alexander Brown hereHello from the Holborn and St Pancras count, where journalists are dismayed to be told there is not a kettle we can use. We are expecting a long night here, with the result not til 4am, but those involved in reading out the winner are currently having a rehearsal on the stage near the press room. Even in a practice, they did not announce a winner. Polling stations close Polling stations in Holborn and St Pancras have closed. The result of the by-election is expected to be announced in the early hours of tomorrow morning. The previous result in Holborn and St Pancras in for 2024 general election was announced at about 4:15am. Who is Labour's candidate Sagal Abdi-Wali? Labour’s candidate for the by-election in Keir Starmer's old seat is Sagal Abdi-Wali, a former child refugee from Somalia. When she was selected, she faced criticism from Reform's Zia Yusuf over not being born in Britain in an attack Labour branded "straightforward racism". In an interview with the Mirror, she hit out at the “hateful rhetoric” around her selection, and issued a defiant defence of immigration. Read the full story here. Zack Polanski faces defining moment Today's by-election could be a defining moment for Zack Polanski’s leadership of the Green party, which has seen a surge in membership and record-breaking results in the May 2026 local elections, gaining more than 440 councillors and gaining control of five councils. But the Greens’ popularity has started to dip after Andy Burnham regained some Labour voters who lent them their vote. Mr Polanski has also faced a troubling week after the Green Party passed a controversial motion at its conference in Brighton asserting that “Zionism is racism”. Voters cast final ballots before polls shut at 10pm Voters are today casting their ballots in the race to elect a new MP in Keir Starmer's old seat. Leading the race in the Holborn and St Pancras by-election in London are Labour's candidate Sagal Abdi-Wali, a former child refugee from Somalia, and Green Leader Zack Polanski. Polls will close at 10pm on Thursday, with ballots to be counted overnight. 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