Zack Polanski faces Labour as voting begins in Holborn by-election

Voters across north London are heading to the polls today, Thursday, 8 October 2026, in a high-stakes parliamentary contest that serves as a major electoral test for the Green Party and its leader, Zack Polanski. The Holborn and St Pancras by-election was triggered after former prime minister Sir Keir Starmer stepped down from the constituency seat last month. With Labour defending a stronghold held by the party since its formation, confidence is growing within party ranks that Camden councillor and candidate Sagal Abdi-Wali will secure victory, according to Daily Mail reporting. Yet Mr Polanski has insisted the race remains exceptionally tight, attempting to galvanize a late surge as polling stations opened across the borough.

Mr Polanski cut short his participation in the Greens' annual conference in Brighton to concentrate on the north London contest, though his absence did not prevent the party from passing a controversial policy motion declaring that Zionism is racism. In a letter sent to every household in the constituency on the eve of polling day, Mr Polanski addressed his Jewish heritage and appealed for voters to lend him their support. He pointed to external projections suggesting a narrow margin between the two frontrunners, maintaining that the contest could come down to just a few hundred votes.

Media additions

Ms Abdi-Wali, who arrived in the UK as a child refugee escaping civil war in Somalia during the early 1990s, has positioned herself as a dedicated local champion. Prime Minister Andy Burnham issued a direct appeal to the electorate, stating:

"Today, hope can win. But only if you vote for it. I have no doubt that Sagal Abdi-Wali will make a brilliant local MP for Holborn and St Pancras."

Andy Burnham, Prime Minister, via Daily Mail

London Mayor Sir Sadiq Khan and Labour MP Bell Ribeiro-Addy also joined the campaign trail to support Ms Abdi-Wali, emphasizing her long service as a Camden councillor and charity volunteer.

Candidate	Party	Key Background / Notes
Sagal Abdi-Wali	Labour	Camden Council leader and former refugee; bookies' favourite backed by Andy Burnham and Sadiq Khan.
Zack Polanski	Green Party	Party leader campaigning to unseat Labour, pointing to tight polling projections.
Ewan Cameron	Conservative	Backed by senior Tory figures including Sir James Cleverly.
Peter Newman	Reform UK	Contending for the constituency alongside 11 other candidates.
Patrick Thomas Stillman	Liberal Democrats	Campaigning to broaden the party's appeal across north London.
George Galloway	Workers Party of Britain	Running his campaign from self-described self-exile in South Africa.

A total of 15 candidates are contesting the seat, reflecting a crowded field that includes representatives from the Conservative Party, Reform UK, and the Liberal Democrats. Among the more unconventional challengers is George Galloway of the Workers Party of Britain, who has conducted his campaign from overseas while urging voters to cast ballots against the political establishment. Meanwhile, Liberal Democrat candidate Patrick Stillman has sought to counter voter perceptions by insisting his party represents more than just affluent demographics.

Political analysts note that defeat for Mr Polanski could blunt the momentum of the Green surge, which saw the party achieve notable breakthroughs in earlier local and regional contests.

What to Watch Next

• Polling stations opened at 7am across 31 designated locations in churches and town halls within the constituency.
• Voting concludes at 10pm tonight, at which point ballot boxes will be sealed and transported to the count.
• The official declaration of the by-election result is expected during the early hours of Friday morning, subject to overall turnout levels.