Polls close in Holborn and St Pancras by-election as Polanski eyes Starmer’s former seat

Become an Independent member to bookmark this article Want to bookmark your favourite articles and stories to read or reference later? Start your Independent Membership today. Join today Already a member? Log in Polls close in Holborn and St Pancras by-election as Polanski eyes Starmer’s former seat Maryam Zakir-Hussain Thursday 08 October 2026 22:18 BST Bookmark popover Removed from bookmarks Close popover Voters divided ahead of crucial by-election test for Burnham Voting has finished in the St Holborn and St Pancras by-election, providing an initial test for Andy Burnham’s re-energised Labour Party. Local council leader Sagal Abdi-Wali hopes to retain the seat for Labour after the former prime minister announced his resignation as an MP last month. She faces a challenge from Green Party leader Zack Polanski . Mr Polanski has endured a difficult week, after his party passed a controversial motion at their Brighton conference claiming that "Zionism is racism". The vote allows Mr Burnham to show he can rebuild public trust in Labour, following a steep fall in poll ratings during Sir Keir’s time in No 10 . In full Holborn and St Pancras by-election result live: Polanski hoping to win Starmer’s old seat as polls close