ZACK Polanski has announced he will stand for Westminster in Keir Starmer’s former seat.
The Green leader south of the Border confirmed his candidacy for the Holborn and St Pancras by-election on Friday.
The seat, traditionally a Labour stronghold, is up for grabs after Starmer resigned from the House of Commons after being forced to quit as prime minister to make way for Andy Burnham.
Labour have chosen Sagal Abdi-Wali, the leader of Camden Council, to contest the by-election on October 8.
Polanski, who is a member of the London Assembly, had faced a challenge to stand in the seat from local councillor Hamza Chowdhury.
Announcing his candidacy, the leader of the Green Party of England and Wales said: “This is it, it is on. I am delighted to be running to be the next MP for Holborn and St Pancras.
It's on. I'm running to be the next Green MP for Holborn & St Pancras.https://t.co/v9TNtZeHpI pic.twitter.com/F50BkZ8kWf
— Zack Polanski (@ZackPolanski) September 11, 2026
“Twenty years ago ,when I first moved to London, Camden Town became my home. And you know what? We can win this election, and in parliament, I will be pushing to lower everyone's bills by bringing in things like rent controls, nationalising Thames Water, and leaving oil and gas in the ground.
“The Green Party, don't take money from big corporations, we're powered by you, and you can make a big difference by donating today and help send me to parliament.”
Liam Conlon, the Labour MP son of Starmer’s former chief of staff Sue Gray, said: “Only Labour’s Sagal Abdi-Wali is rooted in this community and has a proven track record of delivering for Camden.
“She has spent 20 years volunteering across this area, and taken action to improve housing and support for young families as council leader
“Labour will run a positive campaign that brings people together and gives them hope. We look forward to joining hundreds of campaigners on the doorsteps to get Sagal elected as the progressive local voice that Holborn and St Pancras deserves.”
Earlier this year, the Greens won their first-ever Westminster by-election when Hannah Spencer became the MP for Gorton and Denton.
Labour were pushed into third behind Spencer and Reform UK in the previously safe Greater Manchester constituency.
