When is the Holborn and St Pancras by-election? Polling day looms in Labour-Green showdown

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The battle to become the new MP for Holborn and St Pancras has become one of the most closely watched political contests in Britain, as Labour and the Green Party make a final push before polling day on Thursday.

Labour’s candidate, Camden Council leader Sagal Abdi-Wali, remains the favourite to win the north London seat that has been held by the party since its creation in 1983. But Green Party leader Zack Polanski is hoping to pull off a shock victory and secure a place at Westminster.

The campaign has intensified in recent days amid growing scrutiny of the Greens following their conference vote to designate Zionism as a form of racism, a move that sparked controversy and placed Mr Polanski’s candidacy firmly in the spotlight.

The by-election was triggered after Sir Keir Starmer stepped down as MP for the constituency last month, following his departure from Downing Street and the election of Andy Burnham as Labour leader and Prime Minister.

Sagal Abdi-Wali, the Labour candidate for by-election, talks to supporters in Kentish Town on MondayGettyThe main challenge to Labour’s stranglehold appears to come from Green leader Zack Polanski, who just weeks ago threw his hat into the ring to be the next MP for Holborn and St Pancras.

But events at the Green Party’s conference, where members voted over the weekend to define Zionism as racism leading to Mr Polanski being barred from entering Israel, could have damaged his electoral prospects in north London.

Cllr Sagal Abdi-Wali is Labour’s candidate to replace Sir Keir in the by-election. She has served as leader of Camden council since her predecessor, Richard Olszewski, lost his seat on the local authority to the Green Party.

She described her campaign as being rooted in her experience of the borough and its diverse communities.

Camden Council has confirmed that the Holborn and St Pancras by-election will be held on Thursday, October 8.

The process of triggering the by-election started with Labour’s Chief Whip Anneliese Midgley “moving the writ”.

This entailed a motion in the House of Commons chamber asking MPs to agree to issue a new election to replace the outgoing MP.

Andy Burnham paid tribute to Sir Keir Starmer in the House of Commons on TuesdayPASpeaker Sir Lindsay Hoyle then put the question to MPs to decide whether to agree to the motion.

As it was backed by MPs, the motion became an Order for the Speaker, who in turn issues a Warrant to the Clerk of the Crown who then sends the writ to the Returning Officer.

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Who will win Holborn and St Pancras by-election?

Holborn by-election: Leading candidates ramp up campaigns in final dash to the line

By-elections have to be held between 21 and 27 working days from the issuing of the writ.

Sir Keir will leave the House of Commons once a new MP has been elected to replace him.

The count will begin after polling stations close at 10pm on Thursday, October 10.

The result of by-elections usually are announced in the early hours of the morning the following day.

In 2024, the result in the General Election vote in Holborn and St Pancras was announced at 4.15am.

The time we know the result of the by-election will be influenced by the size of the turnout. The turnout in 2024 was 54.1%.

The last two by-elections in the UK saw turnouts of 44.1% (in Clacton on August 13, 2026, when Nigel Farage regained his seat), and 58.8% (in Makerfield on June 18, 2026, when Prime Minister Andy Burnham was elected MP).