Holborn and St Pancras by-election LIVE: 'I won't step down', says Green leader Zack Polanski after defeat to Labour

Ballot papers are counted by staff at the count for the Holborn and St Pancras by-election at the headquarters of Camden Council Jordan Pettitt/PA Wire Rachael Burford , Chief Political Correspondent @ RachaelBurford | Niva Yadav | Tom Place , News Reporter | Megan Howe , News Reporter | Nicholas Cecil , Chief Reporter @ nicholascecil 6 minutes ago The Green Party has conceded defeat to Labour in the Holborn and St Pancras by-election.

Polling stations closed at 10pm, bringing voting to an end after thousands headed to the ballot box.

Ahead of the official declaration, a Green Party spokesman said: “It is clear now we will come a close second in this by-election.

“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."

Labour has held the seat since 1983, with former prime minister Sir Keir Starmer representing it from May 2015 until he dramatically quit last month after being ousted from Downing Street by Andy Burnham .

There are 15 contenders in total, with all of the mainstream political parties running.

Independent and smaller parties, including the Climate Party and the Communist League, also fielded candidates.

George Galloway, who has run his campaign from self-imposed “exile” in South Africa, is also standing.

Zack Polanski is about to arrive at the count here in St Pancras as the Greens conceded defeat to Labour.

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

Ballot papers are counted by staff at the count for the Holborn and St Pancras by-election PA Wire Voting finished - Labour expected to hold seat Vote counting is complete in the Holborn & St Pancras by-election, with Labour expected to hold the seat.

Sources suggested that Labour’s Sagal Abdi-Wali has won the seat with “about 10%” more of the vote over Green Party leader Zack Polanski, who is expected to come in second place.