What the Holborn and St Pancras result means for London

Labour's candidate Sagal Abdi-Wali is the new MP for Holborn and St Pancras, having seen off a challenge from the Green Party in Thursday's by-election.

She told BBC London just after her victory was declared that the voters were "looking for hope".

Abdi-Wali, the Camden Council leader, said despite the national press attention, she had "focused on my own campaign", and for the whole four weeks, "the message was very much the same from people on the streets... [they were] really positive towards me and the fact that I was a local person".

Green Party leader Zack Polanski, their candidate in the by-election, told journalists after the count that "no-one runs an election to lose" but the voters wanted to give new prime minister "a chance".

The result was announced just after 03:00 BST on Friday at Camden's modern office complex in King's Cross.

The turnout, at 38.6%, was lower than at the 2024 general election, when 54% of voters cast a ballot.

And the Greens did triple their vote share from the general election when they won 10%.

However, in 2024, when Sir Keir Starmer was seeking re-election, an independent candidate came second with nearly 19%.

On Thursday the Greens won close to 33%, their second-best result at a Westminster by-election.

Labour won 45% of the vote on, compared to 49% for Sir Keir in 2024.

The Conservatives will be pleased to have come in third place, the first time they have beaten Reform UK in an English by-election during this Parliament.

For Prime Minister Andy Burnham, the decisive win will be welcome news.

It contrasts with Labour's poor performance under Sir Keir's leadership in May's council elections when the party lost control of six London boroughs to the Greens.

Polanski said "of course" he can carry on as Green Party leader.

The final days of the Green campaign had been dominated by the fallout from the party conference vote to approve a motion that "Zionism is racism".

He added: "Ultimately what I've seen over the last few weeks are people who are excited about our 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."

Polanski also tacitly acknowledged that Labour's position has improved with a new prime minister in No.10.

He said: "So many people told me on the doorstep they want to give Andy Burnham a chance. Well he's got a chance now, let's see what he does with it."

Abdi-Wali, who came to the UK as a child refugee from Somalia, said her election "sends a message that anyone here belongs and these spaces are for all of us, that every member of our country has a space here and I want to make sure that people see that reflected in them and me".

She told BBC London she also wants to see Thames Water brought into public ownership and said housing would be a priority for her in Parliament.

"The government is actually talking about the main issue, which is to build more homes.

"The only way we get out of the housing crisis is to build more social, affordable homes and also every other type of tenure.

"I'm really proud that the government is ready on that page with me and I'm going to make sure that I'm working on that from day one."

The Labour Party in Camden will now have to choose a new council leader, while Polanski will face more questions about his leadership of the Green Party.

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