Holborn and St Pancras by-election date set for October 8

Photo: DrimaFilm/Shutterstock

Voters in Holborn and St Pancras are set to go to the polls early next month to elect a new MP following Keir Starmer’s resignation.

The writ to trigger the by-election will be moved in the Commons later this afternoon, with the date expected to be set for October 8.

The former Prime Minister announced he would stand down as an MP last week to focus on a role on international affairs.

Labour has yet to pick its candidate for the by-election, but is likely to face a strong contest from the Green Party – with leader Zack Polanski vying to be the Green candidate.

READ MORE: Labour Party Conference 2026: Full LabourList events programme, revealed

Deputy leader of the Labour Party Lucy Powell said: “Labour has hit the ground running in Holborn and St. Pancras. We’ve been out every day speaking to local residents about their priorities and it’s clear that Andy Burnham’s message of hope is really cutting through. Since this by-election was announced we’ve had thousands of conversations on the doorstep right across the constituency and Labour activists and supporters will be speaking to thousands more in the coming days.

“While others talk, Labour is delivering the progressive change people in Holborn and St. Pancras want to see. We’ve taken early action to give people vital breathing space on the cost of living, and we’re taking on the long term challenges people really care about, like ending rough sleeping, tackling youth unemployment and making sure we finally fix our social care system.

“From building new affordable homes, to boosting workers’ rights, to tackling climate change, it’s clear that Labour is the only Party that can be trusted to deliver the real change so many people want to see. Next month, people in Holborn and St. Pancras have a chance to get behind our plan by voting Labour.”

Become a friend of LabourList and join our community. Our friends support our vital non-factional work and get access to exclusive content and events. 

Subscribe here to our daily newsletter roundup of Labour news, analysis and comment– and follow us on TikTok, Bluesky, WhatsApp, X and Facebook. You can also write to our editor to share your thoughts on our stories and share your own. The best letters are published every Sunday.


    • SHARE: If you have anything to share that we should be looking into or publishing about this story – or any other topic involving Labour– contact us (strictly anonymously if you wish) at [email protected].
    • SUBSCRIBE: Sign up to LabourList’s morning email here for the best briefing on everything Labour, every weekday morning.
    • BECOME A FRIEND: If you enjoyed this, why not consider becoming a Friend of LabourList? Help sustain our journalism, and of course Friends do get benefits…
    • PARTNER: If you or your organisation might be interested in partnering with us on sponsored events or projects, email [email protected].
    • ADVERTISE: If your organisation would like to advertise or run sponsored pieces on LabourList‘s daily newsletter or website, contact our exclusive ad partners Total Politics at [email protected].

More from LabourList

Dealing with disagreement

Mother of the House and veteran firebrand Diane Abbott has caused controversy once again by saying the threat…

Become a Friend

Support independent Labour journalism – for just £4.99 a month!

If you value what we do, become a Friend of LabourList today.