Green Party leader Zack Polanski to contest Keir Starmer's former seat

Zack Polanski, leader of the Green Party and a member of the London Assembly, said on Tuesday he will contest the Holborn and St Pancras by‑election triggered by the resignation of Sir Keir Starmer. The announcement was made in an interview with the Camden New Journal.

Polanski throws his hat in the ring

"I have lived and worked in this community over many years, I know it well and I love it," he told the paper. "It represents so many of the things that make London special and I am excited by the prospect of representing this place in Parliament." He added that voters would have someone "who will always fight their corner" and accused Labour of siding with "corporations and big money".

"It represents so many of the things that make London special and I am excited by the prospect of representing this place in Parliament," Polanski said.

The seat has been a Labour stronghold for decades, but the 2024 general election saw Starmer’s vote share dip to just under 49 per cent, with the Greens securing 10.4 per cent and left‑wing activist Andrew Feinstein taking just under 19 per cent.

The stakes for Labour and the Greens

Labour is expected to field councillor Sagal Abdi‑Wali, according to The Telegraph. The party’s internal polling shows a modest lead over the Greens, but recent City AM/Freshwater Strategy data put Polanski’s personal approval at minus 24, trailing figures for Andy Burnham, Nigel Farage and Kemi Badenoch.

Nationally, the Greens sit at about 10 per cent of the vote, well behind Labour’s 23 per cent and the 26 per cent held by Reform UK. Polanski has faced criticism over council‑tax comments, a controversial social‑media post and remarks about the Metropolitan Police.

Looking ahead

The by‑election is scheduled for early next year. If Polanski can mobilise the Green base and attract disaffected Labour voters, the result could narrow Labour’s majority in Westminster and boost the Greens’ profile ahead of the next general election. Conversely, a decisive Labour win would reaffirm the party’s grip on central London and dampen hopes of a left‑wing realignment.