Labour's new Holborn MP declares victory for 'hope' over fear and division after by-election win

Following her victory, Ms Abdi-Wali said: “I hope this moment also says something about who gets to belong, for people who look like me, I hope they see themselves reflected in this place and know that their path too belongs here. This is Camden, and this is Britain.”Sagal Abdi-Wali celebrated her victory in the early hours of Friday morning PAIn a part of the speech applauded by Mr Polanski, she added: “In Camden, our diversity is a strength and our cohesion has been too hard won to take for granted.“I’ve watched people across Camden work to build communities where difference is not something to fear, but something to value. We cannot allow that work, built over generations, to be casually undone by those who seek to divide us.“We have a responsibility to defend what we’ve built, and pass it on. Hope is not naive. Without hope there is nothing to build on, and nothing to build for. People need to believe that politics can make their lives better and that their communities can thrive and that tomorrow can be better than today.”“That is what this victory represents. Winning not by making people afraid of each other, but by bringing people together.”It comes as Mr Polanski’s leadership of the Green Party was thrown into jeopardy following his defeat. Read MoreMr Polanski insisted he would stay on in the role despite the loss, but some in his party have called into question his leadership following a campaign marred by controversy. When asked by reporters about his future, he said: “Of course I can carry on”, while denying that he had lost control of his party.“What just happened in Holborn and St Pancras is we just over tripled our vote share. What I’ve seen is people excited about our plans for rent controls, tackling the climate crisis and nationalising Thames Water.”Camden Council leader Sagal Abdi-Wali after being declared the winner PAHe added that voters will turn their eye to Prime Minister Andy Burnham to see how he fares now that Labour has been given another “chance” in Holborn and St Pancras.Some of Mr Polanski’s activists argued that the Green campaign in the constituency was not hard enough on Ms Abdi-Wali, her record as council leader or Labour’s record in the borough more widely. Just days before voters went to the polls, a controversial motion declaring Zionism a form of racism was also passed at the Green Party conference in Brighton. Former Green leader Caroline Lucas said Mr Polanski had failed to show leadership over the debate. She branded the motion, which defined Zionism as an ideology supporting "an ethnonationalist Jewish state", as "dangerous".Green Party leader Zack Polanski after he was defeated in the Holborn and St Pancras by-electionPA WireShe told the BBC on Thursday night: “I would have hoped [Mr Polanski] would have been a very strong critic of this motion."Asked if he should stand down, she added: "I think let's just see what happens in the coming days and weeks. Obviously he has been completely taken up with this by-election.“I want him to speak now about what's happened, I want him to show the leadership that was frankly missing.”But on Friday morning, Mr Polanski appeared back the controversial motion, which he had not voted on. Ms Abdi-Wali said the Green Party’s controversial motion on Zionism had no bearing on the result.While people were “scared” about division caused by the move, she did not think it had impacted the outcome.Speaking about her campaign, the newly elected MP said constituents were “looking for hope”, adding that her missions to tackle homelessness and to nationalise Thames Water had resonated with voters.A Green Party spokesperson said: “We are disappointed to miss out tonight but any ideas of a return to the cosy two-party system is just wishful thinking on the part of the establishment. We are here to stay and just getting started.“The voters have delivered a message to the Labour Government today. They want real change; they want rent controls, they want to see an end to the privatised water rip-off; and they want to see justice for Palestinians.“On the climate crisis, Labour will not have an easy political ride if they bring in new North Sea drilling.”