Holborn and St Pancras by-election: Andy Burnham issues last minute appeal to voters as Zack Polanski claims contest ‘close’

Andy Burnham issued a polling day call for voters to back the Labour candidate in the Holborn and St Pancras by-election as her rival Zack Polanski said he believed the contest was “close”.

Ahead of polls opening on Thursday, he said: “the election is looking close today” as he called for “ a Green voice for Camden to push Labour to do better”.

While Prime Minister Mr Burnham said “Today, hope can win. But only if you vote for it” as he urged voters to back Ms Abdi-Wali.

Voters will go to the polls today as candidates fight to replace Sir Keir Starmer as the MP for Holborn and St Pancras.

The North London constituency has been a Labour stronghold since its formation in 1983, held by Frank Dobson for 32 years and Sir Keir for 11.

Prime Minister Andy Burnham with Labour candidate Sagal Abdi-Wal, who is taking on Zack Polanski

The Standard composite

Mr Polanksi hoping to break Labour’s clean sheet and secure his own seat in the House of Commons.

It could be a defining moment for Mr Polanski’s leadership of the party, which has seen a surge in membership and record-breaking results in the May 2026 local elections, gaining more than 440 councillors and gaining control of five councils.

Mr Polanski, who abstained on the vote, later said that he will “not accept any exclusion, or refusal to engage with anyone, because of the religious or communal body they are part of”.

Ahead of polls opening on Thursday, the Green Party leader said: “The election is looking close today. We already have a Labour government, a Labour council and a Labour mayor.

“Isn’t it time for a Green voice for Camden to push Labour to do better on issues like rent controls and to put Thames Water into public ownership – issues where they’ve been backtracking?

“On the climate crisis, today is the day to say clearly to Labour, ‘no new drilling in the North Sea’ – a decision they chose to delay until after the by-election result. That makes your vote powerful.

“A vote for the Greens today can show Labour the right direction. Make it happen today.”

Candidates in the Holborn and St Pancras by-election include Labour’s Sagal Abdi-Wali (top left), the Greens’ Zack Polanski (top centre), George Galloway of the Workers Party of Britain (top right), The Conservatives’ Ewan Cameron (bottom left), Pete Newman of Reform UK (bottom centre) and Liberal Democrats’ Patrick Stillman.

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Mr Burnham said: “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.

“This area gave Sagal a home when she arrived here as a refugee in the 1990s. Camden gave Sagal and her family hope. Now she wants to give that back to the communities that have always been there for her.

“It’s hard to think of someone more committed to their local area and the care of people than Sagal.

“Sagal has a plan to take on vested interests in our water industry, to work with me to help end rough sleeping, and to make sure every young person has the opportunities they deserve to get on in life.

“Sagal is bursting with energy and positivity. She’s given so much to Camden already, and I know she has so much more to give. For Camden, for hope, vote for Labour’s Sagal Abdi-Wali today.”

Also running is George Galloway of the Workers Party of Britain, despite living overseas in what he describes as “self-exile”.

Sir Keir won the Holborn and St Pancras seat in 2024 with 48.9% of the vote (18,884 votes), with independent Andrew Feinstein as runner up on 18.9% (7,312 votes) and the Greens in third with 10.4% of the vote (4,030 votes).