Polanski vows to carry on as Greens leader after by-election defeat to Labour

Green Party leader Zack Polanski after he was defeated in the Holborn and St Pancras by-election following the count at the headquarters of Camden Council at 5 Pancras Square in Camden, north London. The by-election was triggered by the resignation of former prime minister and Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer. Picture date: Friday October 9, 2026. PA Wire Helen Corbett 1 minute ago Zack Polanski has vowed to carry on as Green Party leader after he failed to win a seat in Parliament in the Holborn and St Pancras by-election.

Mr Polanski was defeated by Camden Council leader Sagal Abdi-Wali, who retained the seat for Labour after former prime minister Sir Keir Starmer resigned.

She secured 45% of the vote to the Greens’ 33%, a majority of 3,364 but seeing a 13% swing to the Greens, whose vote share was up by 22.4%.

The vote came in a week that has seen Mr Polanski under pressure after Green members backed a motion declaring Zionism is racism, but he insisted he would stay on as leader.

“Of course I can carry on as leader of the Green Party,” he said when asked about a potential threat to his leadership after the loss.

Green Party leader Zack Polanski after he was defeated in the Holborn and St Pancras by-election (Jordan Pettitt/PA) PA Wire “Of course, I wanted to win. No-one runs an election to lose,” he said, but added that people on the doorstep had been excited about his 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.

“So many people told me on the doorstep, so they want to give Andy Burnham a chance. Well, he’s got a chance now. Let’s see what he does with it.”

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

Camden Council leader Sagal Abdi-Wali after being declared the winner of the Holborn and St Pancras by-election (Jordan Pettitt/PA) PA Wire 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 the previous evening on BBC Newsnight.

Labour beats Green leader Zack Polanski in Holborn and St Pancras by-election - LIVE

Sagal Abdi-Wali's by-election victory speech in full: 'This place gave me hope'

Sagal Abdi-Wali says Labour by-election victory is testament to diversity

She pointed to Mr Polanski’s failure to take part in the controversial anti-Zionism motion on Sunday, saying he “should have been there and he should have voted”.