U.K. Green leader to seek Parliament seat vacated by Starmer
Zack Polanski, leader of the U.K. Green Party, has announced his candidacy for the parliamentary seat in Holborn and St Pancras recently vacated by former Prime Minister Keir Starmer. The move aims to capitalize on dissatisfaction with the Labour Party, though Polanski faces challenges regarding his recent public controversies.
Why it matters
This by-election represents a significant test for the Green Party's ability to siphon votes from the Labour Party in traditionally left-leaning urban constituencies.
The leader of Britain’s left-wing Green Party intends to stand in an election for a seat in Parliament vacated by former Labour Prime Minister Keir Starmer, a local newspaper reported on Thursday (September 3, 2026).
Zack Polanski told the Camden New Journal he would be the Green candidate for Holborn and St Pancras, a left-leaning constituency which Starmer held comfortably in 2024 though with a much-reduced vote share.
“Labour stands up for corporations and big money,” Mr. Polanski posted on X. “I’ll stand up for people and our communities.”
In an election two years ago, an independent candidate who campaigned primarily on opposition to Israel’s war in Gaza took nearly 19% of the vote while the Green candidate received over 10%, giving the party hope of taking the seat this time.
Get smarter about the news
Sign up free for a feed built around what you actually care about, Dive Deeper research on any story, and the full text of every article.
Create free accountAlready have an account? Sign in