Labour retains Starmer’s seat as Green leader faces leadership crisis

Key points

• Sagal Abdi-Wali won the by-election with 45% of the vote, retaining the seat for Labour after Keir Starmer’s resignation.
• Green Party leader Zack Polanski finished second with 33% of the vote, marking the party’s second-best by-election result ever.
• Turnout was 38.7%, significantly lower than the 54% recorded in the 2024 general election.
• The Green Party recently passed a motion equating Zionism with racism, leading to internal division and criticism of Polanski’s leadership.
• Labour deputy leader Lucy Powell described the win as a signal that left-wing voters are returning to the party under Andy Burnham’s leadership.

Background

The by-election was triggered by Keir Starmer’s resignation from his Commons seat following his ousting by Andy Burnham. Prior to the vote, the Green Party had gained national prominence, peaking at 21% in polls in February 2026, and had won the Gorton and Denton by-election. The current race followed a contentious Green Party conference where a motion equating Zionism with racism was passed, sparking internal debate and criticism of Polanski’s handling of the issue.

How outlets are covering it

The Guardian emphasized Labour’s narrative of reclaiming left-wing voters and highlighted the internal Green Party crisis, noting Polanski’s absence from the anti-Zionist vote and calls for his resignation from Jewish Greens chair Vivien Lichtenstein. The Financial Times framed the result as a setback for the Greens and a boost for Andy Burnham, questioning whether Polanski’s leadership is sustainable. BBC reported the low turnout but did not elaborate on the political implications, focusing instead on the basic outcome. The Telegraph source was inaccessible due to a security block, so no perspective could be extracted.

Why it matters

The result signals a potential shift in voter alignment within urban progressive constituencies, suggesting Labour may be recovering support lost during Starmer’s tenure. The Green Party’s internal division over the anti-Zionist motion and Polanski’s leadership challenges could weaken their electoral momentum, while the low turnout raises questions about voter engagement in urban areas under Burnham’s leadership.

What to watch

Polanski faces pressure to resign or defend his leadership, with the next Green Party leadership election due in less than a year. Labour will likely use the result to bolster Burnham’s campaign strategy, while the Green Party must resolve internal divisions to maintain its electoral relevance. Further by-elections or local contests may test the durability of these trends.