Labour has won the Holborn and St Pancras byelection, a high-stakes battle for the left of British politics. This was reported by Qazaqyia.kz citing The Guardian.

The byelection, called after the former prime minister Keir Starmer resigned from the seat in September, was considered a two-horse race between the Labour candidate, Sagal Abdi-Wali, and the Green party leader, Zack Polanski.

Abdi-Wali received 12,292 votes to Polanski's 8,928, Sammy Gecsoyler reports.

Turnout was 38.7%, the lowest for any byelection held in England during this parliament and 15.4% down from 2024.

The Greens conceded defeat shortly before the result was announced, with a party spokesperson saying "taking the fight to Labour in one of its safest seats shows just how far the Greens have come".

Labour's victory will be a relief for Andy Burnham in his first big electoral test as prime minister, and reinforces polling that shows he has recovered some public support lost by Starmer, his predecessor in Downing Street.

Election results

  • 01Sagal Abdi-Wali (Labour): 12,292 votes
  • 02Zack Polanski (Green): 8,928 votes
  • 03Turnout: 38.7%
  • 04Turnout down 15.4% from 2024

Significance of the byelection

The Holborn and St Pancras byelection was a high-stakes battle for the left of British politics. It was called after the former prime minister Keir Starmer resigned from the seat in September.

The race was considered a two-horse contest between the Labour candidate, Sagal Abdi-Wali, and the Green party leader, Zack Polanski. Abdi-Wali received 12,292 votes to Polanski's 8,928.

Turnout was 38.7%. This is the lowest for any byelection held in England during this parliament and 15.4% down from 2024.

Green defeat

The Greens conceded defeat shortly before the result was announced. A party spokesperson said: "Taking the fight to Labour in one of its safest seats shows just how far the Greens have come."

Despite the defeat, Polanski intends to remain Greens leader.

Relief for Burnham

Labour's victory will be a relief for Andy Burnham in his first big electoral test as prime minister. The win reinforces polling that shows he has recovered some public support lost by Starmer, his predecessor in Downing Street.