Polls have closed in the St Holborn and St Pancras by-election, with Andy Burnham facing a first test for his re-energised Labour Party.
Counting is underway in the constituency, where Zack Polanski is hoping to break Labour’s grip and secure his own seat in the House of Commons.
The north London seat has been a Labour stronghold since its formation in 1983, held by Frank Dobson for 32 years and Sir Keir for 11.
It could prove a defining moment for Mr Polanski’s leadership, after the party enjoyed record-breaking results in the May 2026 local elections, adding more than 440 councillors and gaining control of five councils.
However, the bookies’ favourite is Labour’s candidate, Camden Council leader Sagal Abdi-Wali, who Mr Burnham has said would make “a brilliant local MP”.
The election offers the prime minister a chance to show he is restoring voters’ faith in the Labour Party, after its poll ratings nosedived during Sir Keir’s time in No 10.
There are 13 other candidates in the by-election, including Tory candidate Ewan Cameron, Reform UK’s Peter Newman and the Liberal Democrats’ Patrick Thomas Stillman.
Turnout down on 2024 general election
The turnout in the Holborn and St Pancras by-election is 38.76 per cent, Camden Council has said.
It said 27,309 ballots have been cast in the election to replace Sir Keir Starmer as MP for the constituency.
This is down on the 54.46 per cent turnout in the 2024 general election.
Monster Raving Loony party arrive
We’re a few hours from the result, but the Monster Raving Looney party are keeping people at the count entertained.
The party’s candidate in the contest is Barmy Brunch, who is a “clown” and wears a baked bean mask.
Tories hit out at Labour and Green campaigns as polls close
The Conservatives have criticised the by-election campaigns ran by both the Greens and Labour as polls closed in Holborn and St Pancras.
The Tories claimed both parties had “tried to make this by-election about the Middle East and drive our communities apart”, and said it would be “curtains” for Zack Polanski’s leadership if he loses the contest.
“The Greens and Labour have tried to make this by-election about the Middle East and drive our communities apart,” a Conservative Party spokesman said.
“The Greens especially have descended into the sectarian gutter with their contemptible antisemitic Conference motion.
“Instead, Ewan Cameron has run a relentlessly positive campaign focused on the issues that really matter to voters in Holborn and St Pancras: crime, housing and the cost of living.
“If Zack Polanski fails to win this by-election, it will surely be curtains for his leadership of the party. We hope it also marks the end of the Green Party’s sorry embrace of antisemitism.”
Latest pictures from the count
Vote counting underway
A few minutes ago, we heard that one of the ballot counting teams has finished verification.
They were the first of 12 teams to do, and will now begin counting ballots while the other teams continue verification.
The count is split over two floors here, with representatives from various parties overseeing how the ballots are counted.
We’re expecting a result in the early hours of the morning.
Burnham criticises Green 'Zionism is racism' motion
Andy Burnham has criticised the Greens after it passed a motion declaring ‘Zionism is racism’ at its party conference.
The prime minister called on Green Party leadership to reverse the motion, voted for by members, which he said “shouldn't be supported in any way, shape or form”.
Saying the motion was “terrible judgement on behalf of the Green Party”, Mr Burnham said: “"In my view, all political parties in the UK should do everything they can to support the two-state solution between Israel and Palestine.”
The comments come as Zack Polanski prepares to find out whether he will become an MP, as counting gets underway in the Holborn and St Pancras by election.
Mr Polanski did not himself vote in the motion, having left his party’s conference early to campaign.
But he has faced criticism from political opposition for not condemning the vote, and has cast a shadow over his by-election efforts.
Stage is set in Holborn and St Pancras
It’s just gone 11pm and counting is underway in Holborn and St Pancras.
I’m at the count, where we are expecting to find out whether Zack Polanski has pulled off a massive win as the result is declared in the early hours of the morning.
Representatives from almost all the parties in the race are also here, overseeing the counts that have begun.
If there’s not a recount, we should be getting a declaration between 2:30am and 4am. Stay tuned for more updates.
In pictures: Ballot papers are counted
Labour's deputy leader praises party's candidate
Labour has also issued a statement following the closing of polls, with deputy leader Lucy Powell saying the party’s candidate Sagal Abdi-Wali had “campaigned positively” on her vision to improve the area.
She said: “If the voters of Holborn and St. Pancras put their trust in Labour, I know that Sagal will work hard every day to make life better for each and every person across the constituency.”
Polanski says Greens ran 'a positive campaign full of energy'
In a statement issued as the polls close, Green Party leader Zack Polanski said his party had shown how far it had come to be “the main challenger” for Sir Keir Starmer’s former seat.
He also reflected on party’s campaign.
A Green Party spokesperson said: “Whatever the result later, we've run a positive campaign full of energy in what is one of Labour's safest seats.
“To be the main challenger shows how far the Greens have come. We know that many want to give the new prime minister a chance and for the Greens to keep them on a progressive track, on issues like rent controls, water nationalisation and the climate crisis.
“Whether we win or lose, this evening, keeping the pressure on the Labour government to deliver on these priorities will be our focus."
