Counting under way in Holborn and St Pancras byelection

Results are expected from 2.30am BST in the north London poll to choose a replacement for former PM Keir Starmer

Key events7m agoWho are the candidates?13m agoCounting under way in Holborn and St Pancras byelection Ballot papers are counted by staff at the count for the Holborn and St Pancras byelection at the headquarters of Camden Council at 5 Pancras Square in Camden, north London. Photograph: Jordan Pettitt/PAView image in fullscreenBallot papers are counted by staff at the count for the Holborn and St Pancras byelection at the headquarters of Camden Council at 5 Pancras Square in Camden, north London. Photograph: Jordan Pettitt/PAFrom 13m agoHello and welcome to the UK politics live blog.

Counting is currently under way in the Holborn and St Pancras byelection in north London, where voters are choosing a replacement for former prime minister Sir Keir Starmer.

Starmer announced his decision to step down as an MP in September after being ousted from No 10 by Andy Burnham.

Camden council has said the result is expected to be called between 2:30-4am UK time.

We’ll bring you the latest developments as we get them.

Ballots being counted after polls closed in the Holborn and St Pancras byelection in London on Thursday. Photograph: Carl Court/Getty ImagesKey events7m agoWho are the candidates?13m agoCounting under way in Holborn and St Pancras byelectionA quick reminder of the byelection candidates in Holborn and St Pancras:

Liberal Democrats – Patrick Thomas Stillman

Monster Raving Loony party – Barmy Brunch

Christian Peoples Alliance – Helen Spiby-Vann

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.

View image in fullscreenGreen leader Zack Polanski (second right) campaigning on the streets of Holborn and St Pancras last month. Photograph: Andy Hall/The GuardianHowever, 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.

Hello and welcome to the UK politics live blog.

Counting is currently under way in the Holborn and St Pancras byelection in north London, where voters are choosing a replacement for former prime minister Sir Keir Starmer.

Starmer announced his decision to step down as an MP in September after being ousted from No 10 by Andy Burnham.

Camden council has said the result is expected to be called between 2:30-4am UK time.

We’ll bring you the latest developments as we get them.