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Greens concede byelection defeat

Sammy Gecsoyler

The Greens have conceded defeat in the Holborn and St Pancras byelection, saying they have come a “close second” in the contest.

A 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.

The loss will be disappointing for Zack Polanski, who was hoping to replicate the party’s seismic win in Gordon and Denton earlier this year. Thousands of party activists descended on the north London constituency to knock doors but it appears their efforts fell short.

The results caps off a bruising week Polanski and his eco-populist party, which fell into turmoil after it voted on Sunday to adopt a policy declaring Zionism as a form of racism, sparking internal division that continued after polls closed. Former party leader Caroline Lucas refused to say whether Polanski should stand down within an hour of polls shutting while speaking to BBC Newsnight.

Key events

Activists in Camden have suggested the Greens’ decision to back the anti-Zionism motion has cost them votes in the byelection.

Councillors for both Labour the Liberal Democrats told the Press Association that voters had informed them they would not be backing the Green party after it passed the motion last weekend calling Zionism racism.

One councillor said people had been “clearly angry” about the issue when they had spoken to them while canvassing.

Greens concede byelection defeat

Sammy Gecsoyler

The Greens have conceded defeat in the Holborn and St Pancras byelection, saying they have come a “close second” in the contest.

A 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.

The Greens have conceded defeat in the Holborn and St Pancras byelection.

A party spokesperson is quoted as saying: “It is clear now we will come a close second.”

More details soon.

Sammy Gecsoyler

Party officials are gathering as the result is expected imminently.

Sammy Gecsoyler

From the count here in Camden council’s swanky headquarters, signs suggest a Labour-win is imminent.

After the polls closed, the Greens issued a fairly downbeat statement on the “positive campaign” the party ran in “what is one of Labour’s safest seats” – hardly a barnstorming comment suggesting confidence in their chances tonight.

A Green loss could spell further disquiet in the party after a motion terming Zionism as a form of racism passed at its conference. Shortly after polls closed, former Caroline Lucas refused to say whether Polanski should stand down.

Speaking to BBC Newsnight, the former Green leader said: “I want him to show the leadership that was frankly missing on Sunday,” when the motion was voted on. Polanski was campaigning in the constituency instead.

Turnout is 38.7%, the lowest for any byelection held in England during this parliament and 15.4% down from 2024.

Green party leader Zack Polanski has been seen arriving at Camden Council chambers in north London as the byelection count continues. Here are some scenes from the room.

Ballot papers in the Holborn and St Pancras byelection are tallied by staff at Camden Council headquarters in Camden, north London. Photograph: Jordan Pettitt/PA

The byelection was triggered by the resignation of former prime minister and Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer. Photograph: Jordan Pettitt/PA

Holborn and St Pancras has a large number of students, younger voters and renters, with almost half of residents aged between 18 and 34, while about 45% were born overseas. Photograph: Jordan Pettitt/PA

Polls closed at 10pm on Thursday and the result could be announced between 2.30am and 4am local time on Friday. Photograph: Jordan Pettitt/PA

Zack Polanski’s had a tricky week leading up to the byelection amid criticism he showed a lack of leadership over a policy equating Zionism with racism adopted at last weekend’s Green party conference

Polanski missed the vote on it in Brighton in order to campaign in the Holborn and St Pancras byelection.

But the Greens’ adoption of the policy has been highly contentious – drawing sharp rebukes from mainstream UK parties, British Jewish groups and Israel – while also prompting four of five Green MPs to publicly reject the move.

The motion said Zionism – the movement for a Jewish state – should be “treated as any other form of racism” and called for Israel to be replaced by a single Palestinian state. The head of the Jewish Greens condemned it and said she might leave the party, although it was supported by some Jewish Greens.

Even members who supported large parts of the motion were unhappy about its narrow conception of Zionism which some fear could brand those in favour of the idea of a Jewish homeland – but not specifically the modern-day state of Israel – as racist.

The English and Welsh Greens are facing international ostracism after their adoption of the policy drew dismay from the group representing European Greens.

Who are the candidates?

A quick reminder of the byelection candidates in Holborn and St Pancras:

Labour – Sagal Abdi-Wali
Green party – Zack Polanski
Conservative party – Ewan Cameron
Reform UK – Peter Newman
Liberal Democrats – Patrick Thomas Stillman
Restore Britain – Tyler Kurtis Johnson
Workers party – George Galloway
Rejoin EU – Briony Anne Lonbay Kapoor
Climate party – Clare Fischer
UK Voice – Ketankumar Pipaliya
Ukip – Ben Walker
Monster Raving Loony party – Barmy Brunch
Communist League – Jonathan Silberman
Christian Peoples Alliance – Helen Spiby-Vann
Independent – Tom Darwood

Peter Walker

Holborn and St Pancras is, under normal circumstances, a Labour stronghold.

Keir Starmer won it with a majority of 11,500 at the 2024 general election despite strong challenges from the Greens and a leftwing independent candidate, who is not standing again and has endorsed Zack Polanski. In 2019 Starmer won by nearly 28,000 votes.

Polanski has run a highly energetic campaign. He has mobilised a large numbers of supporters to knock on doors, mimicking February’s Gorton and Denton byelection, where the Greens overcame an even bigger Labour majority to take the seat.

Green leader Zack Polanski (second right) campaigning on the streets of Holborn and St Pancras last month. Photograph: Andy Hall/The Guardian

However, the political landscape has changed. Shortly after Gorton and Denton, YouGov polling put the Greens briefly above Labour, on a peak of 21%. The most recent equivalent had Polanksi’s party on 11%, 16 points behind Labour.

Burnham, who succeeded Starmer as prime minister in July, is seen as having revitalised Labour, and used his speech at the party’s annual conference last month to set out a more ambitious and left-leaning collection of policies.

Polanski’s fortunes, in contrast, appear to have declined, especially since last weekend’s Green party conference where a vote by members to adopt a policy equating Zionism with racism and calling for Israel to be replaced by a single Palestinian state prompted condemnation and splits in the party.