Restore Britain takes 692 votes in first Westminster by-election, then 10.8% in Amber Valley

Restore Britain won 692 votes in its first Westminster by-election, in Holborn and St Pancras, with Labour's Sagal Abdi-Wali elected as the constituency's new MP.

Polls closed at 22:00 BST on Thursday 8 October and the result was declared shortly after 03:00 on Friday 9 October. Ms Abdi-Wali won with 12,292 votes. Green Party leader Zack Polanski came second with 8,928, followed by the Conservatives on 1,922, Reform UK on 1,612 and the Liberal Democrats on 924. Restore candidate Tyler Kurtis Johnson was sixth of 15 candidates, ahead of the Workers Party on 314. Camden Council recorded turnout of 38.76%.

Restore's 692 votes amount to about 2.5% of valid votes, based on Camden Council's published figures. That is below the 5% threshold, so the party lost its deposit. The BBC reported that it was the first time this Parliament that the Conservatives had finished ahead of Reform at an English by-election.

Restore leader Rupert Lowe welcomed the result. At 03:06 on Friday he wrote: "This election was always a free hit for Restore Britain, and we've managed to win hundreds and hundreds of votes in a very posh and a very Islamic part of central London."

At 09:53 he added: "One of the most left wing seats in the country, 692 votes. 3%. For a months-old party promising to deport millions, reverse the islamification of Britain, openly and honestly labelling London a third world dump? We will take that." He also said: "Restore Britain is now an established national political party."

Mr Lowe claimed that Mr Johnson's campaign team had been "hounded, abused, violently attacked" during the campaign. That claim has not been independently confirmed.

Mr Johnson said: "The headlines will say 3%. I say, we're just getting started."

On the same night, Restore stood in a council by-election in the Kilburn, Denby, Holbrook & Horsley ward of Amber Valley. The Greens took the seat from the Conservatives with 674 votes (29.5%). Reform followed with 617 (27.0%), then the Conservatives with 386 (16.9%) and Labour with 364 (15.9%). Restore candidate Edward Oakenfull received 246 votes (10.8%).

At 15:31 on Friday, Mr Lowe described it as the party's "best election result ever outside of Norfolk", writing: "Restore Britain has just achieved our best election result ever outside of Norfolk - 10.8% in Amber Valley with the superb Edward Oakenfull."

Mr Oakenfull said: "Restore Britain are not going away. We will build from here."

Some commentators, including GB News, framed the results as Restore costing Reform votes. Restore rejects that view (see separate report).

Restore Britain takes 692 votes in first Westminster by-election, then 10.8% in Amber Valley

Sources