Zack Polanski, the Green Party leader, has declared his determination to remain at the helm of his party even if he fails to capture the Holborn and St Pancras seat left vacant by Keir Starmer's departure from parliament. The contest represents a significant test of the Greens' electoral strength against Labour in one of the capital's traditionally left-leaning constituencies.
During a campaign visit to the north London constituency, Polanski acknowledged that the Greens are underdogs in the race but expressed confidence in his ability to overturn Labour's commanding position. Starmer won the seat in 2024 with a majority exceeding 11,000 votes before announcing on 1 September 2026 that he would resign from the Commons following his earlier departure as prime minister in June.
The Green Party has already mobilised its grassroots operation, with activists having canvassed thousands of households across the constituency. However, the party's recent polling performance has softened following what many observers regard as its peak during the Gorton and Denton byelection victory in February. Polanski has publicly confirmed he will seek selection as the Green Party candidate, with local members set to decide the nomination by the end of next week, while Labour's candidate selection process is already under way, with a candidate due to be chosen on 9 September.
Polanski's candidacy comes as this contest is likely to become a two-horse race between Labour and the Greens, making his decision to stand a politically significant move. Some observers have characterised the race as a high-risk proposition for the Green leader, but Polanski dismisses such assessments.
I think it's nonsense. I think people are trying to up the stakes because they want some drama.He drew a parallel to Nigel Farage's political journey, noting that the Reform UK leader stood for election eight times before achieving victory. Regardless of the outcome in Holborn and St Pancras, Polanski stated unequivocally that he would remain as Green Party leader.
The numerical challenge facing the Greens is substantial. In the 2024 general election, anti-apartheid activist Andrew Feinstein, who stood on the left, secured 7,312 votes and finished second, while the Greens came third with 4,030 votes. Even if those two left-leaning vote shares were combined, the total would fall more than 7,500 votes short of Starmer's winning margin. Feinstein has since endorsed Polanski and will not contest the byelection himself. Yet the Green leader remains undeterred.
We know we can win here,Polanski declared.
During a weekend canvassing session in King's Cross, Polanski undertook his fourth visit to the constituency within a single week. He engaged with voters on the doorstep, addressing concerns about housing, the NHS, and local crime. When asked about his plans should he win, Polanski indicated he would not relocate to the area but instead commute by bicycle from his flat in Hackney.
I can cycle to constituency really quickly. In fact, the length of the constituency is just as fast for me to cycle. I'd regularly be here, doing surgeries and representing people.
Polanski's personal connection to the constituency extends beyond his current political ambitions. He revealed that he previously worked as a door staff member at Scala, a well-known nightclub located within the constituency boundaries, and that his barber operates in the area.
I come here every week,he stated.
The Green leader's accessibility and social media presence have drawn both support and internal party scrutiny. While some party sources have expressed reservations about his approach to digital communication, Polanski defended his strategy as authentic and genuine.
I think people really appreciate the fact that I'm accessible. With other politicians you get corporate politicians where every single part of their life is micromanaged. Every sentence that comes out of their mouth is focus-grouped and I think people absolutely see it as more of a benefit that they know I'm genuine and authentic.
During his doorstep campaigning, Polanski encountered considerable enthusiasm from constituents. One woman with arthritis, unable to descend the stairs to meet him in person, expressed her support through the building's intercom system.
This is a great response. Thank you. I love you too,Polanski responded, shouting back into the buzzer.
Usman Ayyub, a 27-year-old section manager, stopped Polanski in the street to shake his hand and confirm his intention to vote for the Green candidate.
He is standing on his principles,Ayyub said, adding that he was unimpressed with Labour's current direction.
They don't know what they're doing. Sometimes they're falling towards the far right, sometimes they say they're for the left or the centre. They are not standing for anything.
Another constituent revealed a long-standing personal connection, claiming to have worked alongside Polanski at an adventure summer camp in 2002.
I saw you on TV and said: 'That's Zack!'. Very well done,the man remarked.
Polanski's Pitch to Labour Voters
The Green leader has identified an opportunity to appeal to voters who currently support Labour or who wish to give Prime Minister Andy Burnham a chance to prove himself. Polanski argues that voting Green in this byelection serves a strategic purpose beyond simply backing his candidacy.
It's a very easy conversation to have with people. Even if you support Labour or you want to give Andy Burnham a chance, voting Green in this election still makes sense because it'll make him be a better Labour prime minister. We'll make sure that we keep pushing him left rather than listening to Nigel Farage. That argument has been resonating with people.
The Broader Political Context
This byelection marks Labour's first electoral test since Burnham assumed the office of prime minister six weeks ago. Some political observers interpreted Starmer's announcement that he would leave Westminster on Burnham's first day in the Commons as prime minister as a deliberate gesture designed to undermine his successor as he departed parliament.
Polanski believes that significant poverty and deprivation exist within Holborn and St Pancras despite the constituency's reputation as a wealthy area. He argues that regional inequality extends beyond the traditional north-south divide that Burnham has emphasised.
Regional inequality exists so it is important that we talk about supporting all communities. It's also true though that there's a sense that London is wealthy, but actually somewhere like Holborn and St Pancras has deep poverty and deprivation and often it lives side by side with huge pockets of wealth.
As the morning progressed and the clock approached 11am, Polanski continued his canvassing efforts near King's Cross station, where commuters rushed past with luggage bound for their trains. At one point, he adjusted his approach, introducing himself by his full name rather than his usual abbreviated introduction, a change that felt unusual to him but appeared to yield results. When he buzzed a door across from the station, the resident on the other end expressed astonishment at hearing from the Green Party leader directly.
What Happens Next
The Green Party's local selection process is expected to conclude by the end of next week, determining whether Polanski officially becomes the party's candidate. Labour is scheduled to announce its chosen candidate on 9 September 2026. No polling day has yet been set for the byelection, though the contest will serve as an early measure of both the post-reshuffle Labour government's electoral strength and the Greens' ability to sustain the momentum they have built under Polanski's leadership.
