Labour retains Holborn and St Pancras following Starmer resignation

The Labour Party has won the by-election in Holborn and St Pancras, holding off a challenge from the Green Party. ITVX, the BBC, and the Guardian all reported that Labour candidate Sagal Abdi-Wali secured victory in the north London constituency. The BBC reported that Abdi-Wali received 12,292 votes. [1][2][3][4]

The vote was triggered after former Prime Minister Keir Starmer announced his resignation from parliament on 1 September 2026. Starmer had represented the constituency in the House of Commons since 2015 and served as prime minister from 2024 to 2026. The Guardian reported that the contest was widely viewed as a two-horse race between Labour and the Greens. [2][10][11]

Holborn and St Pancras is a parliamentary constituency located in central and Greater London, covering parts of the London Borough of Camden. Following her victory in the seat, Abdi-Wali stated that housing would be her primary focus as the new member of parliament, according to the BBC. [7][9][10]

The Guardian reported that Labour framed the result as evidence of winning back left-wing voters who had turned away during Starmer's leadership. According to the Guardian, Labour claimed a 15-point lead over the Greens in polling following the contest, reversing previous polling trends ahead of Starmer's resignation. [6]