Labour fends off the Green party in closely watched UK by-election

Labour candidate Sagal Abdi-Wali has won the Holborn and St Pancras by-election in central London, securing the seat vacated by former leader Keir Starmer. Abdi-Wali, who arrived in the UK as a child refugee from Somalia, defeated Green Party leader Zack Polanski by 3,300 votes. The victory is seen as a boost for Prime Minister Andy Burnham, as Labour appears to have regained support lost to the Greens earlier in the year. Polanski faced criticism after a party motion declared Zionism to be racism, a stance not supported by most Green MPs. Labour has held the Holborn and St Pancras seat since its creation in 1983.

Labour candidate Sagal Abdi-Wali has won the Holborn and St Pancras byelection, fending off a challenge from the Green party's Zack Polanski. The byelection, triggered by Keir Starmer's resignation, was seen as a crucial contest for the left of British politics. Abdi-Wali secured 12,292 votes to Polanski's 8,928, with a turnout of 38.7%. This victory is a relief for Labour leader Andy Burnham and reinforces recent polling. The Green party acknowledged their defeat, noting their strong performance in a traditionally safe Labour seat. The article also mentions a recent controversy within the Green party regarding a motion on Zionism, which occurred during a challenging week for the party.

Londoners are voting in a by-election for the Holborn and St Pancras parliamentary seat, a contest seen as a crucial test for new Labour leader Andy Burnham. The vote follows the resignation of former Prime Minister Keir Starmer, with the Green Party, led by Zack Polanski, posing a significant challenge to Labour's long-held seat. This election is viewed as an opportunity for Burnham to regain voter confidence, particularly among left-wing voters concerned about the war in Gaza, and to curb the Green Party's growing momentum. The Green Party's gains in London contributed to Labour's poor local election results earlier this year. The article suggests Labour's candidate, Sagal Abdi-Wali, is expected to win.

The Liberal candidate, Anthony Marsh, has claimed victory in the Nepean byelection in Victoria, a result seen as a preview for the upcoming state election. With nearly 80% of votes counted, Marsh held a significant lead on a two-candidate basis. The byelection was triggered by the resignation of a Liberal deputy leader. While the Liberals retained the seat, they experienced a notable swing against them on the primary vote. One Nation's candidate, Darren Hercus, secured a strong second place, surpassing the independent candidate. The Labor party did not field a candidate in this byelection.