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Polanski Selected as Green Party Candidate for Starmer’s Former Seat
Confirmed
In Short: The Green Party has selected Zack Polanski as its candidate for the Holborn and St Pancras by-election, following Keir Starmer's resignation.
The Green Party has selected Zack Polanski as its candidate for the Holborn and St Pancras by-election, following Keir Starmer's resignation. Polanski, the leader of the Green Party in England and Wales and a London Assembly member, will stand in the seat on 8 October.
Polanski's selection comes as both the Green Party and Labour are in full battle mode, with both parties out in force over the weekend, distributing leaflets to residents across the Camden side of Fitzrovia.
The by-election is expected to be a two-horse race between Labour and the Greens, with Labour's candidate tipped to be Camden Council leader Sagal Abdi-Wali. Polanski, who was voted to be the party's candidate by members of the Camden Green Party, has been selected over local councillor Hamza Chowdhury.
Polanski expressed confidence but not complacency about his chances, stating, 'The by-election for a new MP here is going to be a two-horse race between Labour and the Greens.' He also noted that a Green MP would work with Prime Minister Andy Burnham constructively to challenge him on the gaps in his plans.
The seat became vacant after former Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer announced he was standing down as an MP to focus on a role in international affairs. The Greens have won council seats in London but have never won a parliamentary seat in the capital, making this a historic by-election for the party.
Polanski's announcement suggests that local Green Party member Feinstein will not risk split votes by also standing. The Greens finished second to Labour at the elections for Camden Council earlier this year, indicating the potential for a strong showing in the by-election.
The Greens and Labour are expected to announce their candidates this week, with a fresh load of leaflets and door-to-door visits to follow in the weeks leading up to the by-election, which is expected to take place late this autumn.
What's confirmed
- The Greens and Labour were out in force over the weekend with residents across the Camden side of Fitzrovia receiving the first leaflets seeking their support for the forthcoming Holborn and St Pancras by-election.
- For Labour, Camden Council leader Sagal Abdi-Wali is tipped as the front runner for their candidate.
- Green Party MP for Gorton and Denton Hannah Spencer said local party members "overwhelmingly" chose London Assembly member Mr Polanski over local councillor Hamza Chowdhury for the nomination.
What's still developing
- While Labour mayors have backed the new levy, others have expressed caution or signalled they will not bring it in.
- The Green Party leaflet shows a bar chart of current party support projected by Electoral Calculus for 1 September 2026.
- While Labour has a majority on Camden Council, the Greens are also the largest opposition group — known as the Green Progressive Alliance.
- While yet to be formally selected, Zack Polanski is featured on an A4-sized leaflet with a message to voters in Holborn and St Pancras.
- Labour’s leaflet is half the size and says “we’re proud of our record here”.
- Polanski said the Greens "might be the underdog in this election but we have the momentum and we can win".
- “Holborn and St Pancras has everything that’s the best of our country and so much potential,” said Mr Polanski.
- The idea that this constituency would ever be anything but Labour was once almost unthinkable under Frank Dobson and then Mr Starmer, but now it has become a target seat.