Key Points
- Green Party leader Zack Polanski will contest the upcoming by-election in Holborn and St Pancras.
- Former Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer triggered the contest by resigning as Member of Parliament for the seat.
- Polanski, a London Assembly member, is currently the only major UK party leader without a seat in the House of Commons.
- The by-election is the first electoral test for Prime Minister Andy Burnham since he became Labour Party leader.
- Labour has held the inner London constituency continuously since 1983.
- Progressive figures, including 2024 independent candidate Andrew Feinstein, have held discussions regarding a vote-unification strategy.
London (Oxford Daily) September 3, 2026 – Green Party leader Zack Polanski has announced his candidacy for the House of Commons in the upcoming Holborn and St Pancras by-election, triggered by former Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer’s decision to step down from Parliament. Writing for the Camden New Journal, Polanski confirmed his intention to seek the nomination, subject to local party approval, stating: “I am so excited by the prospect of representing this place in parliament”. Polanski, who is currently a member of the London Assembly, remains the sole leader of a major British political party without a seat in Westminster. The contest marks the first major electoral test facing the newly appointed Prime Minister Andy Burnham since taking over the Labour leadership.
As reported by Jim Pickard and Lucy Fisher of The Financial Times, Polanski framed his campaign directly around economic relief and anti-establishment politics. Polanski declared: “We know that the Greens can win here, and by electing me, voters will have someone who will always fight their corner — never scared of big donors or the party whip. Too often, Labour has stood up for corporations and big money. I will stand up for people struggling to pay their bills”. The Green Party added in an official statement: “Zack has always made it clear he would like to be a London MP. London has been his home for over 20 years”.
As reported by Rowena Mason of The Guardian, Sir Keir Starmer confirmed his decision to stand down after nearly a decade representing the north London seat, having first been elected in 2015. Starmer explained his intention to focus on global matters, stating: “It has been a huge honour and privilege to represent the best constituency in the country and to have taken over from Frank Dobson… 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”.
As reported by Jane Dalton of The Independent, Labour has historically maintained a strong electoral grip on the constituency, holding it continuously since its creation in 1983 with over 40% of the vote in every general election. However, the 2024 general election saw Starmer’s margin narrow. Starmer secured 48.9% of the vote, followed by independent candidate Andrew Feinstein on 18.9%, and the Green Party on 10.4%. Following Starmer’s departure announcement, Feinstein stated on social media: “We must ensure that all progressive forces in Holborn & St Pancras unite”.
As reported by City A.M., senior Green Party officials view the upcoming poll as a crucial indicator of national political sentiment, describing it as a direct “Burnham versus Polanski” referendum on the direction of the Labour government. Meanwhile, Labour has initiated an accelerated selection process, giving parliamentary hopefuls until Friday to submit applications, with candidate selection scheduled for next Wednesday.
What is the local electoral history of Holborn and St Pancras?
Holborn and St Pancras has long been regarded as one of Labour’s safest parliamentary strongholds in London. Since the creation of the constituency for the 1983 general election, only two individuals have represented the area in Parliament: Frank Dobson, who served from 1983 until 2015, and Sir Keir Starmer, who held the seat from 2015 until his resignation.
Labour’s lowest vote share in the seat’s history came during the July 2024 general election. Although Starmer retained the seat with 48.9% of the vote, substantial support was directed toward left-wing independent and third-party candidates. Former South African MP Andrew Feinstein, standing as an independent on a pro-Palestine platform, secured second place with nearly a fifth of the total ballots cast. The Green Party finished third with 10.4%.
The Green Party subsequently achieved further gains within the London Borough of Camden during local council elections, strengthening their organizational base across the constituency.
How have political leaders and allies reacted to Sir Keir Starmer’s departure?
Reactions across Parliament to Sir Keir Starmer’s exit from the House of Commons highlighted both his parliamentary legacy and political debates over his tenure.
Prime Minister Andy Burnham paid tribute to Starmer during a House of Commons address, acknowledging his predecessor’s service. Burnham told MPs that Starmer had “given this country a lifetime of public service” and noted that his leadership had “created a platform to change this country for the better,” promising to “build on the work of my predecessor”.
Former Housing Secretary Steve Reed praised Starmer’s performance in taking the party back into power. Reed stated on social media that the former prime minister was leaving “with his head held high,” commending him for “taking Labour into government by a landslide just five years after our worst ever election result”.
Former Business Secretary Peter Kyle similarly reflected on Starmer’s leadership trajectory, remarking: “From the pits of despair after the 2019 hammering to the euphoria of a landslide victory, he led with grit, driven by a love of country”.
Conversely, opposition figures criticized the timing of the resignation. Conservative Party Chairman Kevin Hollinrake remarked: “It is fitting that his final act as a member of parliament is yet another U-turn having pledged to stay on,” referring to earlier indications that Starmer intended to serve out his term as a backbench MP.
Background
The Holborn and St Pancras by-election comes at a critical juncture for both the Labour government and the Green Party. Keir Starmer’s tenure as Prime Minister ended earlier in the summer following internal party pressure and widespread losses for Labour in local and devolved elections across Scotland, England, and Wales. Starmer was replaced by Andy Burnham, who assumed the prime ministership and sought to reset the government’s domestic policy agenda.
Starmer initially indicated that he would remain in Parliament to represent his constituents from the backbenches. However, his decision to resign triggers the first parliamentary by-election under Burnham’s premiership. For the Green Party, under Zack Polanski’s leadership, the by-election offers a high-profile platform to challenge Labour’s dominance in urban London constituencies and potentially secure a fifth Green MP in the House of Commons.
Prediction: How will this development affect voters and political parties in London?
The by-election in Holborn and St Pancras is expected to significantly alter the tactical landscape for voters and political organizations across north London.
For left-leaning and progressive voters in the constituency, the contest presents a choice between maintaining traditional alignment with the governing Labour Party or backing a challenge from the Green Party or potential independent pacts. If Andrew Feinstein and local progressive groups form an electoral alliance with Zack Polanski, vote consolidation could make the contest unexpectedly competitive.
For Prime Minister Andy Burnham and the Labour Party, the campaign will serve as a bellwether for government popularity. A reduced margin or loss in a historically secure seat would signal ongoing vulnerability on Labour’s left flank, potentially influencing national policy priorities regarding public services and environmental strategy.
For the Green Party, securing or performing strongly in Holborn and St Pancras would validate Polanski’s strategy of challenging Labour directly in metropolitan strongholds, potentially establishing a blueprint for future parliamentary campaigns in urban centers nationwide.
