In a Thursday by-election, Britain’s ruling Labour Party retained a Greater London parliamentary seat previously held by the prime minister, with Labour candidate Sagal Abdi-Wali defeating Green Party leader Zack Polanski, who came in second.
Abdi-Wali won 12,292 votes, or 45.17% of the total in the Holborn and St. Pancras constituency, while Polanski got 8,928 votes, or 32.81%, according to British media reports.
The Conservative Party finished third with 1,922 votes, followed by Reform UK with 1,612 and the Liberal Democrats with 924.
Abdi-Wali replaces former Prime Minister Keir Starmer as the constituency’s member of Parliament, retaining a seat that has consistently voted Labour in previous elections.
Following his defeat, Polanski told journalists that he would remain leader of the Green Party.
“I don’t think it was a mistake at all. I think it’s been an opportunity to present the Green Party values, to talk about rent controls, tackling the climate crisis, nationalizing Thames Water,” he said.
“It’s been amazing to speak to people in Holborn and St. Pancras. I’ve really enjoyed the last few weeks,” he added.