Green Party leader Zack Polanski has confirmed he wants to stand in the by-election brought about by Sir Keir Starmer's resignation as an MP. Polanski, who is currently a London Assembly member but not a member of Parliament, said he was "so excited by the prospect" of being the first Green MP of Holborn and St Pancras. The Greens are targeting the seat, until now a Labour stronghold, after coming second to Labour in the area in local elections earlier this year.
Sir Keir made the announcement on Tuesday that he was quitting as MP for the London constituency, two months after he stood down as prime minister, setting up a challenging by-election for his successor Andy Burnham. In comments to the Camden New Journal on Thursday morning, Polanski said: "I have lived and worked in this community over many years, I know it well and I love it. "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." In order to officially be the Green Party's candidate for the seat, Polanski needs to be selected by local party members - something his comments suggest will happen. But there have been reports in recent days of splits among local Green activists, some of whom are said to favour a pro-Gaza candidate. And it is currently unclear whether Andrew Feinstein, the independent runner-up to Sir Keir in the constituency at the 2024 general election, will stand too which could split the vote.
A date has not yet been set for the by-election. Keir Starmer announces he is standing down as MP of Westminster and beyond.
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