Wish you were here, Zack? Sagal Abdi-Wali poses for a selfie with Andy Burnham as she signs in as Labour’s newest MP after beating Green leader Polanski in last week’s by-election
Sagal Abdi-Wali has taken her seat as Labour MP for Holborn and St Pancras after winning last week’s by-election, beating Green Party leader Zack Polanski. Her arrival follows Keir Starmer’s resignation from the Commons and makes the contest another test of party support since the 2024 general election.
Abdi-Wali won 12,292 votes, a majority of 3,364 over Polanski, who received 8,928. She took the oath holding a copy of the Koran and later joined Andy Burnham and other Labour MPs for a photocall. The by-election came amid controversy over a Green Party conference motion describing Zionism as racism, which drew criticism from Jewish groups and others.
- Sagal Abdi-Wali is Labour’s new MP for Holborn and St Pancras.
- She beat Zack Polanski by 3,364 votes.
- Her swearing-in followed a by-election shaped by controversy over a Green Party motion.
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A by-election has taken place in Holborn and St Pancras in central London following Keir Starmer's resignation from his Commons seat. The Prime Minister stepped down as his constituency MP, and by-elections between general elections serve as tests of support for the government.
Sagal Abdi-Wali of Labour won with 12,292 votes, defeating Zack Polanski of the Green Party, who received 8,928 votes and leads the party. The election took place against a background of controversy within the Green Party over a conference motion describing Zionism as racism, which drew criticism from Jewish groups and others.