Zack Polanski's Greens to blitz north London as activists told: Ditch conference to fight Holborn by-election

Zack Polanski is dramatically ramping up his campaign in the Holborn and St Pancras by-election with Green members being urged to miss their annual conference to get out campaigning in north London.“Winning in Holborn and St Pancras will unlock our future election goals. Now is the time to go all in.”Zack Polanski campaigning in Holborn and St PancrasAFP/GettyThe message, sent to email lists and WhatsApp groups, added: “Already got a ticket to the conference that weekend. “Any cancellations will get refunded. “If you still want to participate but online, you can switch your ticket to an online one, which is cheaper than in person, and vote remotely.” Amid a backlash from some Green activists over the tone of the message, a party spokesman later added: "This is simply a request, not an instruction. “Our conference will still be the most democratic of all the political parties and is on course to be the most well-attended we have ever held."The Greens are seeking to leaflet the whole Holborn and St Pancras constituency on Wednesday.Labour's candidate for the Holborn and St Pancras by-election, Sagal Abdi-Wali, speaks to supporters during her campaign launchGettyParty strategists believe their ground forces are outnumbering the Green troops out campaigning.They say that some voters who deserted the party during Sir Keir’s leadership are now returning to it.Some people who previously backed the Tories or Liberal Democrats, they added, were considering supporting Labour in an anti-Polanski vote.Read MoreResponding to the Greens’ conference message, Beckenham and Penge MP Liam Conlon, Labour’s by-election political lead, said: "Labour campaigners are already out on the doorsteps every day sharing Sagal's (Abdi-Wali) progressive message of hope.” His hopes of a shock win in what was previously a safe Labour seat have been dented by George Galloway’s decision to stand in the contest which risks splitting the Left-leaning, anti-Labour vote.Workers Party of Britain leader George GallowayPA WireSir Keir gained 18,884 votes, with the Greens far behind in third place with 4,030.Polls suggest that Labour may have lost around a quarter of its vote in London under Sir Keir’s premiership.But the party has risen in the polls since Andy Burnham became Prime Minister.