Headline: Zack Polanski Seeks Green Candidacy for Starmer’s Former Seat

Date: 3 September 2026

Tags: UK Politics, Green Party, Labour, By-election

Summary:

• Green Party leader Zack Polanski wants to contest the Holborn and St Pancras parliamentary by-election.

• The election was triggered by former prime minister Sir Keir Starmer resigning as the constituency’s MP.

• Polanski currently serves in the London Assembly and has never been a Westminster MP.

• He still requires formal selection by local Green Party members before becoming the official candidate.

• The Greens are targeting the Labour stronghold after finishing second locally in elections earlier this year.

• Polanski described the contest as a direct fight between Labour and the Green Party.

• Independent Andrew Feinstein, who finished second to Starmer in 2024, said he will not stand this time.

• Labour has not selected its candidate, with applications due to close on Friday.

• The contest will provide an early electoral test for Prime Minister Andy Burnham’s Labour leadership.

• No date has yet been announced for the by-election.

Why this matters: A Green victory in a former Labour stronghold would demonstrate growing pressure on Labour in inner-city constituencies.

What’s next: Local Greens must formally select their candidate, while Labour will choose its contender ahead of the by-election date.