Green Party leader Zack Polanski will stand in the by-election triggered by Keir Starmer’s resignation as an MP. (Alamy)
2 min read03 September
Green Party leader Zack Polanski has announced his intention to stand in the Holborn and St Pancras by-election triggered by former prime minister Keir Starmer’s resignation as the local MP.
Polanski told the local newspaper, Camden New Journal, he was “so excited by the prospect of representing” the North London constituency in an interview published on Thursday.
“I have lived and worked in this community over many years, I know it well and I love it,” the London Assembly Member said.
“It represents so many of the things that make London so special. I am so excited by the prospect of representing this place in Parliament.”
Polanski will need to be officially selected as the Green candidate to enter the contest.
The Greens are expected to be the main challengers to Labour in the contest to succeed Starmer.
Polanski’s party has enjoyed significant electoral success in London in recent months, largely at Labour’s expense, including winning 12 seats in Camden, the council area covering Holborn and St Pancras, at the May local elections.
A win in Holborn and St Pancras would help the Greens rebuild momentum after a period which has seen its polling dip.
A victory for Labour, however, would boost Burnham’s bid to show that he can win back progressive voters who have moved away from Labour since the last general election.
Earlier this week, Starmer told the same newspaper that he had decided to stand down as the local MP to focus on international affairs.
“It has been a huge honour and privilege to represent the best constituency in the country and to have taken over from Frank Dobson, who was such a great constituency MP and a member of the last Labour government,” the former PM said.
“I will now focus on other things and that will be international affairs including defence, security, trade and technology in a fast-changing world.
“I will also continue, as I have done for a long time now with others, work on combating violence against women and girls; that is an issue that matters to me hugely.”
Prime Minister Andy Burnham paid tribute to his predecessor on Tuesday, telling the House of Commons that Starmer had “given this country a lifetime of public service”.
“His leadership took our party from one of its worst defeats to its best victories, and created a platform to change this country for the better. We will use it well, and we wish his family the very best for the future,” Burnham said.