Greens select Zack Polanski for Holborn and St Pancras byelection

Green Party leader Zack Polanski has been selected as the party’s candidate for the Holborn and St Pancras byelection on 8 October, after the seat became vacant following Keir Starmer’s departure from Parliament.

The Greens are challenging Labour, which won the constituency by more than 11,000 votes at the 2024 general election. Labour has selected Camden council leader Sagal Abdi-Wali as its candidate.

Polanski was chosen over local councillor Hamza Chowdhury. He has described the Greens as underdogs but said he was confident they could defeat Labour.

According to The Guardian, Polanski pointed to the party’s local election gains in May, saying its representation in the area had increased from one councillor to 10. Claims about campaign momentum and voter sentiment have not been independently verified.

The contest may also be shaped by forthcoming energy decisions. Industry insiders expect government approval for the Jackdaw gasfield, while any announcement on the Rosebank oilfield is expected to be delayed until after the byelection. Neither expectation has been confirmed by the government.