“There’s a lot of hope and positivity, but what are you going to do?” My focus groups in Holborn and St Pancras

Published on ConservativeHome.com on 21 September 2026.

My latest focus groups took place in the central London constituency of Holborn and St Pancras, where nominations had just closed for the by-election to replace Keir Starmer. Our participants had all voted Labour in 2024, contributing to Starmer’s majority of 11,572 over independent candidate Andrew Feinstein, who is not standing in the by-election and has endorsed Green leader Zack Polanski, Labour’s main challenger.

The groups thought Starmer had been a committed and visible local MP, and most sympathised with his decision to step down despite his assurances that he would stay: “One you’ve had to quit being prime minister, you’ve kind of failed politically;” “I think it was probably difficult for him to stick around.”