Zack Polanski has declared his desire to stand as the Green Party candidate in the upcoming by-election for the Holborn and St Pancras constituency, formerly held by Keir Starmer. Polanski stated he is "excited" by the prospect of representing the community, which he claims to know well from years of living and working there. "I am so excited by the prospect of representing this place in Parliament," Polanski told the Camden New Journal. He further asserted that Holborn and St Pancras "has everything that's the best of our country and so much potential," but has been "held back by governments who have failed to make the changes to improve people's lives."
Polanski positioned himself as a candidate who would champion constituents against corporate interests and party directives, stating, "We know that the Greens can win here, and by electing me, voters will have someone who will always fight their corner – never scared of big donors or the party whip. Too often Labour has stood up for corporations and big money. I will stand up for people struggling to pay their bills."
The vacancy in Holborn and St Pancras arose after Keir Starmer's unexpected resignation from the Commons on Tuesday, despite earlier commitments to serve the full parliamentary term. This move presents an early challenge for Labour, which has held the seat continuously since its creation in 1983. While Starmer secured a majority of 11,000 in 2024, this was a significant reduction from his 27,763 majority in 2019. During his tenure, Starmer faced criticism regarding his stance on the conflict in Palestine.
The local political landscape in Camden, the local authority covering the constituency, saw Labour retain control of the council in May's elections, but with a reduced number of seats. The Green Party secured 11 council seats within Camden, seven of which are in the Holborn and St Pancras area, although one of these has since been lost to Labour in a by-election.
Despite Polanski's confirmation, reports suggest potential resistance within local Green Party circles. There are indications that some local members favor endorsing an independent candidate with a pro-Gaza stance. The Greens reportedly believe they have a strong chance of winning the seat, potentially bolstered by the unlikelihood of independent candidate Andrew Feinstein, who previously garnered significant support, standing again.
Labour aims to select its candidate by the following Wednesday, with the by-election possibly scheduled for October 1 or 8. The contest is seen as a crucial test for Labour's current appeal. Internal party dynamics have surfaced, with Tulip Siddiq, an MP for a neighboring constituency and an ally of Starmer, expressing disapproval of candidates from outside the area seeking to run, posting on X, "If I didn't see you campaigning even once during the local elections in Camden, it's probably best you don't message me asking for help to run in Holborn and St Pancras."