The Green Party leader Zack Polanski was confirmed as the Green candidate on Friday morning, and will face off with Labour’s Sagal Abdi-Wali, the leader of Camden Council
Zack Polanski has been confirmed as the Green Party candidate(Image: Getty Images)
Green Party leader Zack Polanski is finally set to stand for Parliament, teeing up a major by-election clash in Keir Starmer’s old seat.
Mr Polanski was confirmed as the Green candidate for Holborn and St Pancras on Friday, and will face off with Labour’s Sagal Abdi-Wali, the leader of Camden Council.
The contest was sparked last month after the former PM revealed his plans to quit Parliament, saying he felt it was the “right time” to step down and focus on new work on international affairs. The by-election to replace the former PM will take place on October 8.
The contest poses a fresh challenge for the new PM Andy Burnham, who helped Labour defeat the Greens in both the Makerfield by-election and the Greater Manchester Mayoral race.
Speaking after being selected, Mr Polanski said: “I love this place and so do the people whose doors I’ve knocked on in recent days – but it can be even better. I know times are tough in Holborn and St Pancras. My story of constant moving around flats is such a common story for Londoners – and I know many people here are really struggling right now. I’ll fight to turn this around.
“Greens are underdogs here but we have the momentum – and I know we can achieve a historic victory in one of Labour’s safest seats. We will fight a positive campaign on the issues we know people care about, and to put as much pressure as we can on Labour to lower bills, for much more affordable housing and rent controls, to reduce massive wealth inequality and to make sure Labour don’t back down on climate action by allowing more North Sea drilling.
“If elected, I will fight every day, in this constituency and in the Houses of Parliament, for the things people care about. Against injustice and on the side of ordinary people, not big money and the powerful.”
Labour has won the inner London constituency since it was created in 1983, winning at least 40% of the vote at every election. But it faces a tough battle to hold the seat against the Greens and local independents.
Labour has named Ms Abdi-Wali, a former child refugee who became the leader of Camden council, as its candidate.
Responding to Mr Polanski, Liam Conlon MP, Labour’s by-election political lead, 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.”
This followed Mr Polanski being forced to apologise after sharing a post on social media questioning the actions of police in the Golders Green attack. The officers had kicked a man in the head after he’d stabbed two Jewish men in a horrifying terror attack.
At the local elections in May, the Greens won 11 council seats in the area, seven of which were in the part of the borough covered by the constituency of Holborn & St Pancras.
