Labour squabbling erupts over by-election battle in Starmer's seat - with Zack Polanski poised to be Green candidate

See more Daily Mail on Google - save us as a Preferred Source Published: 05:56 EDT, 2 September 2026 | Updated: 05:58 EDT, 2 September 2026 Labour squabbling has erupted over the by-election in Keir Starmer's old seat - with the Greens gearing up for battle.Tulip Siddiq, a close ally of the former PM and MP for a neighbouring constituency, complained about candidates from outside the area trying to parachute in.The sniping came as Zack Polanski gave a strong hint that he will stand in the Holborn & St Pancras contest, which the Greens believe they have a good chance of winning.In a statement last night, Mr Polanski said he was 'excited for the next chapter' and the by-election would be a 'referendum on ending rip-off Britain'.Sir Keir conducted yet another U-turn to announce his immediate departure from the Commons yesterday, despite pledging to see out the rest of the Parliament. The move is a headache for Andy Burnham, presenting an early test of the poll 'bounce' the party has been enjoying. Labour has held the inner London constituency continuously since it was created in 1983, winning at least 40 per cent of the vote at every election. Zack Polanski has given a strong hint that he will stand in the Holborn & St Pancras contest, which the Greens believe they have a good chance of winning Keir Starmer conducted yet another U-turn to announce his immediate departure from the Commons yesterday, despite pledging to see out the rest of the Parliament Sir Keir had an 11,000 majority in 2024, but that was significantly down from the 27,763 margin he secured in 2019 Tulip Siddiq, a close ally of the former PM and MP for a neighbouring constituency, complained about candidates from outside the area trying to parachute inSir Keir had an 11,000 majority in 2024, but that was significantly down from the 27,763 margin he secured in 2019. He came under heavy fire over his approach to Palestine during the campaign.The constituency is within the local authority of Camden, where local elections took place earlier this year in May.Labour retained control of the council, but only won 30 of the 55 seats up for grabs - down from 47 in 2022.The Greens won 11 council seats, seven of which were in the part of the borough covered by the constituency of Holborn & St Pancras. The party has since lost one of these seats to Labour in a by-election.The prospects for the Greens could be bolstered as independent candidate Andrew Feinstein, who racked up 18.9 per cent of votes in 2024, looks unlikely to stand. In a statement last night, Mr Polanski - who is marking a year since becoming party leader - said: 'Only the Greens have a real plan for real hope and change.'We will announce our candidate in due course and they will set out an exciting agenda for the deep change our country needs.'I am proud of what I have achieved in the first year of my leadership of the Green Party but it is just the start.'I am very excited for the next chapter for myself, for the Greens and for people across the country.'Labour is hoping to have a candidate in place by next Wednesday, with the contest potentially taking place as soon as October 1 or 8.New Labour big beast David Miliband had been touted for a comeback, but appears to have ruled the prospect out. Ms Siddiq, MP for Hampstead and Highgate, posted on X last night making clear her ire at the jockeying to succeed Sir Keir. '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,' she wrote. The move is a headache for Andy Burnham, presenting an early test of the poll 'bounce' the party has been enjoying