Holborn and St Pancras by-election - live: Labour's Sagal Abdi-Wali beats Green party leader Zack Polanski

Holborn and St Pancras by-election - live: Labour's Sagal Abdi-Wali beats Green party leader Zack Polanski Sagal Abdi-Wali, a former child refugee from Somalia, defeated Zack Polanski after a seismic by-election sparked by the former PM Keir Starmer quitting as an MP Green Party leader Zack Polanski has had his authority damaged after failing to win the by-election triggered after Keir Starmer quit as Labour leader - before being told he's less popular than even Nigel Farage. Sagal Abdi-Wali is the new Labour MP for Holborn and St Pancras in London - holding the seat for the party and hammering Polanski, who could now face further questions over his controversial stewardship of the Greens. Labour's candidate Sagal Abdi-Wali, a former child refugee from Somalia, won convincingly with 12,292 votes, beating Mr Polanski on 8,928. Voter turnout was 38.76%, with 27,309 ballots cast. This is a significant drop from 2024's general election, when 56,786 voted. Polanski says he won't quit, but admits his future is out of his hands. He said it up to Green Party members to decide whether he continues as leader. Asked how confident he was to be re-elected, he told Sky News: “That’s going to be up to the members and that’s going to be up to the leadership election that happens next summer. “What I’m experiencing, though, is an immense amount of people who are saying actually they’ve never been prouder to be a Green Party member.” Embattled Polanski was then given a kicking by Nick Robinson, who told him he is less liked than Reform's leader Farage in a heated Radio 4 Today interview. Swerving the barb, Mr Polanski responded after a pause: “Well, my reflection is if things are going wrong by the fact that we just tripled our vote share and had our second best by-election result in Green Party history, you know what? I’ll take that. Follow live updates below... Key Events VOTE: Is it time for Zack Polanski to go? Zack Polanski says he won't resign, but accepts it is down to Green party members to decide his future. The heat is on the leader after Labour strolled to by-election victory in north London overnight. Now, we're asking Mirror readers for their take following a bad night for Mr Polanski. Keir Starmer says Sagal Abdi-Wali a 'brilliant champion for our communities' Former Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer believes Sagal Abdi-Wali will make a 'fantastic' MP. Taking to X, he congratulated the 42-year-old after Labour saw off the Greens overnight. Polanski secures peer backing as party 'doesn't depose leaders by gossip' A Green peer has dismissed talk of Zack Polanski being thrown out by his own party. Baroness Jenny Jones told Times Radio that the crisis over the Zionism is racism motion is a "rather big blip". But she said she believes Mr Polanski will remain in charge until his current term ends in a year. She said: "He's been elected for two years and so he has another year of his term to run. We don't do things in the Green Party the way that other political parties do. We don't depose leaders by gossip and criticism. "We actually try to work through things. We've had some huge blips in the past before. We've managed to get through them and come out the other side. So he's there for another year. And I'm sure he is going to work incredibly hard to make sure that the party goes on the track that we would all like." Polanski refused five times to say Israel has a right to exist Green Party leader Zack Polanski refused to say whether he believed the state of Israel has the right to exist. Repeatedly pressed on the issue on BBC Radio 4’s Today, he said: “I believe Israelis and Palestinians should have equal rights in a democracy.” Asked to give a yes/no response on whether Israel had the right to exist, he added: “At the moment Palestinians don’t have equal rights, so I think I’m answering your question really clearly.” 'You’re less popular than even Nigel Farage' Embattled Zack Polanski was told he is less liked than Reform's Nigel Farage as he was taken apart on air by Nick Robinson. The Greens leaders didn't know how to respond in a heated Radio 4 Today interview. The host put to Polanski: “You’re less popular than even Nigel Farage." Swerving the point, the party leader responded: “Well, my reflection is if things are going wrong by the fact that we just tripled our vote share and had our second best by-election result in Green Party history, you know what? I’ll take that. “Now, I’m not going to sit here and pretend I’m not disappointed. No politician runs in a by-election and doesn’t want to win." Who is Sagal Abdi-Wali, the inspiring MP who escaped war to shape futures Sagal Abdi-Wali is celebrating this morning after comfortably winning the north London by-election in the early hours. The 42-year-old has an inspiring back-story, first coming to the UK in the early 1990s as a child refugee, fleeing civil war in Somalia. Ms Abdi-Wali was first elected as a local councillor in 2022, and back in May she made history by becoming Camden’s first black female leader. Discussing her experience escaping war-torn Somalia, she told the LabourList website in 2019: "Camden has been my home since I moved here with my family as a child refugee, fleeing war-torn Somalia. "This new home is where I was raised and educated; it's where I now work for the council and volunteer for local community groups and charities. “It is an area steeped in close community values, progressivism and inclusion, all of which have shaped who I am and the socialist principles by which I stand." 'Labour's message of hope really cutting through' Bridget Phillipson says the by-election results underline that Labour’s message is getting through. The party’s chair told Times Radio: "I think it demonstrates that Labour's message of hope is really cutting through. “It shows that people don't just want parties like Labour to talk about the progressive change this country needs but they want to see it delivered in action and that's what we're focused on every day as a Labour government." By-election results recap Just after 3am this morning, Sagal Abdi-Wali was officially announced the new Labour MP for Holborn and St Pancras. Ms Abdi-Wali won with 12,292 votes or 45 per cent, with Mr Polanski in second with 8,928 or 33 per cent.Labour secured a majority of 3,364 with a 13 per cent swing from Labour to the Greens. The Conservative candidate came in third, followed by Reform and the Lib Dems. Sagal Abdi-Wali (Labour): 12,292 – 45.1% Zack Polanski (Green): 8,928 – 32.8% Ewan Cameron (Conservative): 1,922 – 7.1% Peter Newman (Reform UK): 1,612 – 5.9% Patrick Stillman (Liberal Democrats): 924 Tyler Johnson (Restore Britain): 692 George Galloway (Workers’ Party): 314 Turnout: 27,211 (38.8%) Polanski: 'I won't quit, but it's now up to members if I carry on' Zack Polanski said it is now up to Green Party members to decide whether he continues as leader. He says he won't quit despite failing in his effort to become an MP. Under the Green Party’s rules, Mr Polanski faces a scheduled leadership election next year - with his position being questioned following the controversy over the party’s anti-Zionist conference motion and the failure to oust Labour in the Holborn and St Pancras by-election. Asked how confident he was to be re-elected as leader, he told Sky News: “That’s going to be up to the members and that’s going to be up to the leadership election that happens next summer. “What I’m experiencing, though, is an immense amount of people who are saying actually they’ve never been prouder to be a Green Party member.” New MP vows to target homelessness Sagal Abdi-Wali said Labour would win 'by bringing people together' - and now tackling rough sleeping sits near the top of her in-tray. Ms Abdi-Wali said: “Homelessness is the issue that first drove me into politics, and no-one should be sleeping on the streets, and no family should be left without security in the home. “I want to work with the Prime Minister Andy Burnham and our Labour Government to tackle rough sleeping while addressing the wider housing crisis, so that people don’t just get a roof over their heads, but the security and hope that comes with having a proper home.” Polanski: We're nearer to glory than ever The Greens are now closer to success than they have ever been, the party’s defiant leader insists. Labour has won the Holborn and St Pancras by-election in a huge blow to Zack Polanski. Camden Council leader Sagal Abdi-Wali held Sir Keir Starmer’s former seat with 12,292 votes or 45 per cent, with Mr Polanski in second with 8,928 or 33 per cent. “We are going to be more of an electoral threat to Labour than we have ever been, this has been a safe Labour seat since 1983, so I am seeing this as growth.” Polanski told Sky News, before being asked if the 'shine' had been taken off him following the defeat. “I’m not happy to say ‘we’re just going to get second places’ but the idea that the shine has come off me is being overplayed.” 'Greens have failed' Neal Lawson, Director of cross-party campaign group Compass, says the Greens have fallen very short. He said: “If the Greens’ strategy really was to replace Labour, then yesterday it failed. "What Polanski and the party need now is a process to understand how they will help build the Progressive Majority at the next election, to stop not just Reform but the causes of Reform." Green leader: quitting has never crossed my mind Zack Polanski says he has no intention of standing down despite the by-election hammer blow. Polanski faces the biggest crisis of his leadership so far following Labour’s Holborn and St Pancras success. Questioned about if he had considered quitting, he said: "Of course I haven’t. “The Green Party when I became leader had about 60,000 members, we’ve now got 220,000. “And as I said, the two best by-election results that we’ve ever had in Green Party history have both been under the current leadership.” No general election coming up, says Bridget Phillipson Labour party chairwoman Bridget Phillipson has denied that Labour's success will be a springboard for a general election. Ms Phillipson told Sky News that although her party is on a roll, Andy Burnham will not be tempted to go to the country. She said: "No, we've got a lot to do, and we were elected in 2024 with a five-year mandate, and there's plenty we need to get on with in the here and now." She went on to say the next general election is currently "some years away". Polanski claps back at critics Defiant Zack Polanski has clapped back at critics who claim the bubble has burst for his party. Speaking to Sky News, the Green Party leader said: "This has been a safe Labour seat since 1983. What it is now is a marginal Labour and Green seat. So again, I'm seeing that as growth. "I'm not complacent about that. I'm not happy to kind of go, 'okay, we're just going to get second places'. But I think the idea that this is kind of some shine coming off me or some, you know, difficulty I think is blown." Polanski asked if he'd made a mistake Zack Polanski denies coming second in effectively a two-horse race means running was a mistake. “Not in the slightest, it was the best chance to get back on track and talk about what we needed to talk about,” he said when asked by Sky News. “I am of course disappointed, you don’t run any election because you want to lose them. But we tripled our vote share, this is our second best ever by-election in our history. “I want to try and win every one. It’s huge momentum.” Graph shows Labour holding on to voters after crisis earlier this year Some more intriguing analysis from pollster Luke Tryl. Earlier this year Labour was bleeding votes to the left. The crisis came to a head in February, when Hannah Spencer stormed to victory in Gorton and Denton. But a quick glance suggests voters are no longer drifting to Mr Polanski's party. Andy Burnham still in 'honeymoon' period says Polanski Zack Polanski has said Andy Burnham is in his "honeymoon" as he responded to the by-election result. In a video posted on social media, the Green Party leader said voters had said they want to give the PM a chance. Mr Polanski said: "I'm not going to pretend that I didn't want to win, that's what you do in elections. But without a doubt, this is Andy Burnham's honeymoon, and also people told me on the doorsteps they want to give Andy Burnham a chance. "Well, he's got that chance now. Let's make sure he keeps fossil fuels in the ground, says no to Rosebank, let's make sure he nationalises Thames Water, and let's make sure he brings in rent controls. We'll see what happens next." Andy Burnham now 'King of North London' after win Andy Burnham is now 'King of North London' as well as 'King of the North', a former No10 communications chief said. James Lyons - who held the role under Keir Starmer - told Sky News: "Andy Burnham wakes up this morning not just King of the North, but King of North London. "And what he's managed to achieve is to win his own seat in Makerfield in the Red Wall, and then successfully defend a seat in a, you know, metropolitan area with lots of Liberals, lots of progressives." First ever Green MP refuses to back Polanski One significant intervention overnight was from former Green Party leader Caroline Lucas, who refused to back Zack Polanski. Asked on BBC Newsnight whether he should stand down, she said: "Let's see what happens in the next in the coming days and weeks. "I mean, obviously he has been completely taken up with this by-election. I want him to speak now about what's happened. I want him to show the leadership that was frankly missing on Sunday. I think the jury is out about whether or not he will do that, but I very much hope he will." Ms Lucas, the party's first-ever MP, has heavily criticised the 'Zionism is racism' motion that threw her party into crisis on Sunday. She said: "I've been very clear that I think it was a mistake not to show leadership on this and I think it was a mistake not to be there to vote." Snap analysis makes grim reading for Greens Some interesting snap analysis here from one of Britain's top pollsters. Luke Tryl, head of More in Common, has crunched the numbers - and they don't look great for the Greens. In February they sent a shockwave through British politics by winning in Gorton and Denton - a historically safe Labour seat. Last night there was a big swing toward the Greens, but nowhere near the numbers that propelled Hannah Spencer into Parliament earlier this year. Have a look at the figures here: Polanski denies losing control of his party Zack Polanski faces an awkward few days following the by-election defeat. A huge rupture emerged in his party on Sunday when members backed a binding motion declaring Zionism is racism. Mr Polanski was criticised for not casting a vote and for not being in Brighton when the vote happened. Senior Greens have spoken out against the motion, which has set the party's official position. Asked if he had lost control, Mr Polanski said: "I don't think that's true at all. I've got a party that was 55,000, 60,000 members when I was running for leader, it's now 220,000. "Any member is entitled to their opinion. We're a democratic grassroots party." Zack Polanski's gamble fails to pay off The Mirror's political correspondent Dave Burke writes in Good morning - if you're joining us after a long and dramatic night, you'll see that Labour has held Keir Starmer's old seat. This was always expected to stay in Labour's hands, but the Greens will take heart from the vote swing toward them. In 2024 Mr Starmer picked up over 18,800 votes, while the Greens received just 4,000. It was a huge gamble for Mr Polanski to put himself forward. While the Greens were riding high in the polls it could have been a different story. But under Andy Burnham Labour is a different force. Polanski vows to carry on as Greens leader after by-election defeat “Of course I can carry on as leader of the Green Party,” Polanski said when asked about a potential threat to his leadership after the loss. “Of course, I wanted to win. No-one runs an election to lose,” he said, but added that people on the doorstep had been excited about his plans for rent controls, tackling the climate crisis and nationalising Thames Water. “Of course, we didn’t get over the line, but the point here is that ultimately, I want to make sure those were the options that people have. “So many people told me on the doorstep, so they want to give Andy Burnham a chance. Well, he’s got a chance now. Let’s see what he does with it.” Labour's new MP declares 'diversity is our strength' in winning speech Sagal Abdi-Wali said her victory was a testament to the success of diversity in the borough. She said she wanted to bring Thames Water into public ownership, tackle rough sleeping, and create more opportunities for young people. Ms Abdi-Wali, who is also the leader of Camden Council, said: “I hope this moment also says something about who gets to belong, for people who look like me, I hope they see themselves reflected in this place and know that their path too belongs here. This is Camden, and this is Britain.” . Labour congratulate Sagal Abdi-Wali Sagal Abdi-Wali leaves the count Sagal Abdi-Wali has finally left the count, having been swamped by supporters desperate for a selfie with Labour's newest MP. She is expected to have a victory rally in a few short hours, before being sworn in as an MP next week. The venue is now just the last remaining journalists, and security who can't leave until we do. Zack Polanski vows to continue on as leader Zack Polanski has vowed to continue on as leader, despite the result. Asked by Sky News if he would stay on, Mr Polanski said: “Yes absolutely, that’s what leaders do.” He said: “I don’t think it was a mistake at all, I think it has been an opportunity to present Green Party values, to talk about rent controls, tackling the climate crisis, nationalising Thames Water, it’s been amazing to speak to people in Holborn and St Pancras, I’ve really enjoyed that.” IN PICTURES: Candidates leaving the venue Greens insist they're 'here to stay' Speaking after the result, a Green Party Spokesperson insisted it was a positive defeat. They said: "Achieving a huge swing in one of Labour’s safest seats – an increase of 22% in vote share since the General Election – is an incredible result for the Green Party, and during a honeymoon period for the new PM. "We are disappointed to miss out tonight but any ideas of a return to the cosy two party system is just wishful thinking on the part of the establishment. We are here to stay and just getting started." [Image text:] VOTE LABOUR IDE. TAROU VOTE LABOUR VOT VOTE LABOU LABOUR