Greens concede in Holborn by-election, saying Polanski came ‘close second’

Mr Polanski faced Labour candidate Sagal Abdi-Wali in the poll to replace Sir Keir Starmer in the seat he vacated after stepping down as prime minister.

Ms Abdi-Wali has been the leader of Camden Council since May and was the bookies’ favourite.

A Green Party spokesperson said: “It is clear now we will come a close second in this by-election.

Ballot papers are counted by staff at the count for the Holborn and St Pancras by-election (Jordan Pettitt/PA Wire/PA Images)

PA Wire

“Taking the fight to Labour in one of its safest seats shows just how far the Greens have come.

“Voters want us to keep Labour’s feet to the fire on affordable housing, public ownership of water and the climate crisis.

“Greens will be there every single day, holding Labour to account and demanding the change people voted for.”

The official declaration is yet to come, but turnout was announced as 38.76%, with 27,309 people casting votes on Thursday.

This is a significant drop in turnout compared to the 2024 general election, when it was 54.46%.

Labour and Lib Dem activists and councillors had earlier indicated that a loss of support for the Greens was evident during campaigning in recent days after members backing a motion declaring Zionism is racism at its conference.

A former Green leader suggested Mr Polanski could face a threat to his leadership if he lost.

Caroline Lucas, the three-time former Green Party leader who was its first MP, said people should “see what happens in the coming days and weeks” when asked about his future on BBC Newsnight.

A Green Party source responded to her remarks, saying: “There are ups and downs in politics and when people are passionate they disagree in the heat of a campaign.”

The north London seat has been a Labour stronghold since its formation in 1983, held by former health secretary Frank Dobson for 32 years and Sir Keir for 11.