Green leader Zack Polanski confirmed as candidate for Keir Starmer’s seat after ex-PM stood down & triggered by-election

NewsPolitics GREEN leader Zack Polanski will fight Labour to become the next MP for Sir Keir Starmer’s old seat. Mr Polanski was today unveiled as his party’s candidate for the Holborn and St Pancras by-election on October 8. Former Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer previously held the seat Credit: AFP Zack Polanski will run for Keir Starmer’s seat in Parliament He saw off a challenge from local Green councillor Hamza Chowdhury, with party members overwhelmingly backing Mr Polanski. The London Assembly member will now take on Labour candidate Sagal Abdi-Wali, the leader of Camden Council. Sign up for the Politics newsletter Thank you! Ms Abdi-Wali, who has led Camden council since May this year and been a councillor for Camden Square since 2022, will seek to retain the seat for Labour. It comes after Sir Keir Starmer announced he was quitting as an MP last week, triggering a by-election battle in London. It sets up what is expected to be a fierce contest as the Green Party eyes an opportunity to make inroads into Labour’s support in the capital. The by-election will be an early electoral test for Andy Burnham and a major gamble for Mr Polanski after the Greens slipped back in the polls after his first year as leader. Mr Burnham visited the constituency on Thursday to throw his weight behind Ms Abdi-Wali as she kicked off her campaign. Labour has held Holborn and St Pancras continuously since the seat was created in 1983, with just two MPs representing it – Frank Dobson and Sir Keir. Most read in The Sun But there are signs the party faces a fight to keep hold of the north London stronghold after voters shifted towards the Greens and independents in recent contests. Sir Keir won 48.9 per cent of the vote at the 2024 general election, while pro-Gaza independent Andrew Feinstein came second on 18.9 per cent and the Greens took 10.4 per cent. The Conservatives came fourth on 7.2 per cent, Reform finished fifth on 6.1 per cent and the Liberal Democrats were sixth on 5.8 per cent. The Greens also made gains in Camden at May’s local elections. Sir Keir Starmer said last week that it was was the “right time” to leave Parliament after 11 years representing the constituency. The former PM, who left Downing Street at the end of July, said he was ready to “pass the baton to a successor” and focus on a new career on the international stage. He plans to work on defence, security, trade and technology as well as continuing his campaign against violence towards women and girls.