Why this is no disaster for Polanski: Greens remain competitive as voters reward Burnham
Why this is no disaster for Polanski: Greens remain competitive as voters reward Burnham Submitted by Imran Mulla on Fri, 10/09/2026 - 10:21 The Green vote share surged to a historic high in Holborn and St Pancras, despite the party leader losing to Labour Green Party leader Zack Polanski reacts following the results in the Holborn and St Pancras by-election, triggered by the resignation of Keir…
The recent by-election in Holborn and St Pancras, triggered by the resignation of Keir Starmer as MP, has resulted in Labour's Andy Burnham narrowly winning the seat. This victory is not a disaster for the Green Party, despite initial fears. The Green vote share surged to a historic high in the seat, suggesting the party still has potential for growth.
Labour's candidate, Andy Burnham, is locally well-known and popular, with an ally in Sagal Abdi-Wali, a child refugee from Somalia who has become leader of Camden Council. The Greens achieved a significant victory in the by-election, winning 8,928 votes (32.8 percent) to Burnham's 12,292 (45.2 percent). While Polanski's defeat is a setback for the party in the short term, the Green Party has shown strong performance in the past year, gaining momentum and credibility following Polanski's leadership.
The party has consistently been a major threat to the establishment, and it is expected to continue providing better alternatives to the Labour government.
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