Labour Candidate Defeats Controversial Green Party Leader in London By-Election

Segal Abdi-Wali, the Labour Party candidate, won a by-election in the Holborn and St Pancras constituency in central London, securing 12,292 votes, or 45% of the electorate. She defeated Green Party leader Zac Polanski, who received 8,928 votes (33%). The election was triggered by the resignation of former UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer, who left his post in July and resigned from Parliament in September.

The loss marks a difficult week for Polanski, a 43-year-old Jewish politician known for his anti-Israel and antisemitic stances and his support for Palestinians. His party recently passed a resolution stating "Zionism is racism," which drew widespread criticism and led to a government decision to ban him from entering Israel. While Polanski did not participate in the vote, he stated after the results that he believes the expulsion of Palestinians is a racist act.

Polanski had aimed to transform the Green Party into a populist-ecological movement drawing votes from Labour. This strategy had been successful until Andy Burnham took leadership of the Labour Party. Burnham countered the Green Party's rise by appealing to left-wing voters, adopting a tougher stance on Israel and a more ambitious approach to relations with the European Union.

Abdi-Wali, who also serves as leader of the local council, paid tribute to Starmer in her victory speech and pledged to address housing issues alongside Burnham. "We have a responsibility to protect what we have built and pass it on. Throughout our campaign, we chose hope, and the residents of Holborn and St Pancras chose it with us. Now it's time to deliver," she stated.

Despite his electoral defeat, Polanski indicated his intention to remain leader of the Green Party. "Many people told me at their doors that they want to give Andy Burnham a chance," he said. "Well, he has a chance now. Let's see what he does with it."