Green Party leader Zack Polanski has declared his intention to contest the Zack Polanski Holborn by-election, set for 8 October, after Sir Keir Starmer resigned as MP for Holborn and St Pancras, according to BBC News.
Polanski, currently a London Assembly member, said he was ‘so excited by the prospect’ of becoming the first Green MP for the constituency. He told the Camden New Journal: ‘I have lived and worked in this community over many years, I know it well and I love it. I am so excited by the prospect of representing this place in Parliament.’
He added: ‘It’s a clear fight between Labour and the Green Party.’
Feinstein steps aside and backs Polanski
A potential complication to Polanski’s path has resolved itself. Andrew Feinstein, who finished as runner-up to Sir Keir in the constituency at the 2024 general election, has said he is too old to stand and has endorsed Polanski as the next MP for Holborn and St Pancras, The Jewish Chronicle reports. Feinstein is 62.
His withdrawal removes one threat of vote-splitting on the left, though the report had previously noted uncertainty over whether he would stand at all. That uncertainty is now settled in Polanski’s favour.
To become the official Green candidate, Polanski still needs to be selected by local party members. There have been reports of divisions among some local Green activists, with some said to favour a Palestinian candidate or a pro-Gaza independent. Polanski’s public comments, however, suggest the selection is expected to proceed in his direction.
A challenging contest for Labour and the Zack Polanski Holborn by-election field
Sir Keir had held the seat since 2015. He announced on Tuesday that he was resigning as an MP, two months after stepping down as prime minister, saying it was the ‘right time’ to ‘pass the baton to a successor’. He said he would focus on international affairs, including defence, security, trade and technology, and would continue his work on combatting violence against women and girls.
Sir Keir became prime minister after winning a landslide majority at the 2024 election, but quit Downing Street following pressure from Labour MPs to stand aside. He had previously said he would remain as an MP until the next UK general election, which is not due until 2029.
Labour has not yet confirmed its candidate for the seat, with applications closing on Friday. The by-election offers an early test for Starmer’s successor Andy Burnham of his ability to hold back the Green advance in inner-city constituencies.
The Greens are targeting the seat after finishing second to Labour in local elections in the area earlier this year. The party currently holds five seats in Parliament. Polanski said a Green victory would send ‘a clear message that we won’t sit by as we get poorer and extreme wealth is concentrated at the very top.’
The Conservatives face a difficult contest. At the 2024 general election, they finished fourth in Holborn and St Pancras, behind Labour, Feinstein and the Greens, according to Newswav.
The by-election is scheduled for 8 October.
