Green Party leader Zack Polanski has confirmed he will contest the by-election for Holborn and St Pancras, the London constituency vacated by former Prime Minister Keir Starmer.
Starmer's seat became vacant after he moved to Downing Street as Prime Minister following Labour's general election victory in July 2024. Under parliamentary convention, a sitting prime minister who holds a Commons seat may trigger a by-election, creating an opening in what has historically been a safe Labour stronghold in central London.
Polanski, who serves as the Green Party's leader in England and Wales, announced his candidacy according to reports from Al Jazeera and BBC News. The by-election represents an opportunity for the Greens to build on the party's recent electoral momentum, having secured four MPs at the 2024 general election — their best-ever result. Holborn and St Pancras covers a densely populated urban area that includes significant student and younger-voter populations, demographics the Greens have historically targeted. Labour is expected to defend the seat, though no official candidate has yet been confirmed in the available source material.
A strong Green showing — or an outright win — would mark a significant symbolic blow to Labour in the Prime Minister's own former constituency. Political analysts have noted that the Greens are increasingly competing with Labour for progressive urban voters disillusioned with the government. Polanski's decision to stand personally, rather than field another candidate, signals the party views the contest as a national-profile opportunity rather than a routine by-election campaign.
A date for the by-election had not been officially set at the time of reporting, according to available sources. Both Al Jazeera and BBC News are continuing to follow developments.