Polanski's moment of truth: Green leader insists he 'can win' Holborn by-election as voting gets under way with Labour confidence growing

Published: 04:16 EDT, 8 October 2026 | Updated: 04:36 EDT, 8 October 2026 Zack Polanski is facing a moment of truth today as he scrambles for votes in the Holborn & St Pancras by-election. The Green leader has been appealing for help from activists as residents cast their ballots in the contest for Keir Starmer's old seat.Labour candidate Sagal Abdi-Wali is the bookies' favourite, with confidence growing inside the party that the Camden councillor will clinch victory. But Mr Polanski insisted on social media overnight that he 'can win', claiming there might be just a 'few hundred votes in it'.He pointed to a projection from Poll Check suggesting Labour could get 40.4 per cent of the vote and the Greens 35.6 per cent. Mr Polanski cut short his participation in the Greens' annual conference in Brighton last weekend so he could continue the campaign. Zack Polanski is facing a moment of truth today as he scrambles for votes in the Holborn & St Pancras by-electionVoters are giving their verdict on who they want to succeed Keir Starmer as their MP The Green leader has been appealing for help from activists Labour candidate Sagal Abdi-Wali is the bookies' favouriteHe left after delivering a speech on Friday, having reportedly failed to get the whole thing cancelled to allow activists to help him in London instead.As a result he was absent for the massively damaging vote to pass a 'Zionism is Racism' policy, which has sent the party into meltdown.Defeat for Mr Polanski would underline how Andy Burnham's arrival has flattened the Green surge - which saw them scoop Gorton & Denton in a by-election in February and then secure record-breaking local council results in May.It could also raise questions about the party's leadership. Holborn & St Pancras has been a Labour stronghold since its formation in 1983, held by Frank Dobson for 32 years and Sir Keir for 11.Mr Polanski 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.'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. Confidence has been growing inside Labour that Camden councillor Ms Abdi-Wali can clinch victory Defeat for Mr Polanski would underline how Andy Burnham's arrival has flattened the Green surge'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.'There are 13 other candidates in the by-election, including the Conservatives' Ewan Cameron, Reform UK's Peter Newman and the Liberal Democrats' Patrick Thomas Stillman.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 per cent of the vote (18,884 votes), with independent Andrew Feinstein as runner-up on 18.9 per cent (7,312 votes) and the Greens in third with 10.4 per cent of the vote (4,030 votes).