Green Party co-leader Zack Polanski has stated he will continue in his leadership role even if he is unsuccessful in the forthcoming Holborn and St Pancras by-election. The contest is considered a significant moment for the left of British politics.
Speaking to the Guardian while canvassing in the north London constituency, Polanski acknowledged the Greens as underdogs but expressed confidence in his ability to defeat Labour. The seat was previously held by Keir Starmer, who announced his departure from parliament last Tuesday, following his resignation as Prime Minister in June. Starmer secured the seat with a majority of 11,572 votes in the 2024 general election.
Green Party activists have reportedly "knocked on thousands of doors," according to Polanski, despite a recent decline in the party's national poll standings. This by-election will be the first electoral test for Labour since Andy Burnham became Prime Minister six weeks ago. Some commentators have suggested Starmer's announcement to leave Westminster on Burnham’s first day in the Commons as Prime Minister was a calculated move.
While not yet formally selected as the Green candidate for Holborn and St Pancras, Polanski is expected to be chosen by local members. The race will assess the electoral strength of both the Greens and Burnham's Labour.
Polanski joined volunteers in King's Cross over the weekend, marking his fourth visit to the constituency within a week. Should he win, Polanski stated he would not relocate to the area but would cycle from his flat in Hackney. He said: “I can cycle to [the] constituency really quickly. In fact, the length of the constituency is just as fast for me to cycle. I’d regularly be here, doing surgeries and representing people.”
Some political observers have characterised the seat as challenging for the Greens, viewing Polanski's candidacy as a high-risk endeavour. Polanski dismissed these assessments as "nonsense," suggesting they were attempts to "up the stakes because they want some drama." He drew a parallel with Nigel Farage, who contested elections eight times before securing a victory, reiterating his commitment to remain Green leader if he does not win.
During his canvassing, Polanski reportedly received enthusiastic support from members of the public. He was stopped multiple times by individuals expressing support, including a group of young men who recognised him from TikTok. Polanski remarked on the experience, saying: “I feel like the Queen!”
In the 2024 general election, the anti-apartheid activist Andrew Feinstein, standing on the left, placed second with 7,312 votes, while the Greens came third with 4,030. Feinstein will not contest this by-election and has endorsed Polanski. Even combining Feinstein's and the Green Party's votes from the last general election would leave the Green candidate more than 7,500 votes short of unseating Labour. Despite these figures, Polanski remains optimistic, asserting: “We know we can win here.”
Initial door-knocking efforts were slow, but interactions soon became more positive. One woman, unable to come downstairs due to arthritis, expressed her admiration for Polanski via her buzzer. He responded: “This is a great response. Thank you. I love you too.”
Usman Ayyub, a 27-year-old section manager, stopped Polanski in the street, planning to vote for him. Ayyub expressed dissatisfaction with Labour, stating they had “completely lost the plot” and were inconsistent in their political stance, at times appearing to lean "towards the far right" or claiming to be "for the left or the centre."
Another man, claiming to have worked with Polanski at an adventure summer camp in 2002, also stopped him, expressing pleasant surprise at seeing him on television. Polanski mentioned speaking with Labour voters who are considering switching their support to the Greens. He suggested that a Green vote could encourage Prime Minister Burnham to adopt more left-leaning policies. “We’ll make sure that we keep pushing him left rather than listening to Nigel Farage. That argument has been resonating with people,” he added.
Polanski also noted his personal connections to the constituency, mentioning he once worked the door at Scala, a local nightclub, and that his barber is located there. He stated: “I come here every week.”
Regarding internal party frustrations about his social media use, with one source describing him as "terminally online," Polanski responded: “I think people really appreciate the fact that I’m accessible. With other politicians you get corporate politicians where every single part of their life is micromanaged. Every sentence that comes out of their mouth is focus-grouped and I think people absolutely see it as more of a benefit that they know I’m genuine and authentic.”
On the doorstep, issues such as housing, the NHS, and local crime were frequently raised. While Prime Minister Burnham has highlighted the north-south divide, Polanski believes that significant poverty exists in London, including within the Holborn and St Pancras constituency. He stated: “Regional inequality exists so it is important that we talk about supporting all communities. It’s also true though that there’s a sense that London is wealthy, but actually somewhere like Holborn and St Pancras has deep poverty and deprivation and often it lives side by side with huge pockets of wealth.”
As the morning progressed, Polanski began introducing himself using his full name at doors, despite it feeling "odd." This approach appeared to be effective, with one man over a buzzer responding in disbelief: “Is this Zack Polanski, seriously?” Polanski confirmed: “Yes, it’s Zack Polanski seriously.”
