Key facts
- Green Party leader Zack Polanski has received support from local party members to run in the Holborn and St Pancras byelection.
- The seat became vacant following Keir Starmer's resignation.
- Nominations for the Green Party candidacy are expected to open soon, with a selection anticipated by the end of next week.
- Lorna Jane Russell, leader of the Greens on Camden council, will not stand.
- Polanski views the byelection as a "referendum on ending rip-off Britain".
- Labour's potential candidates include Sagal Abdi-Wali, Adam Hug, Nash Ali, and Rishi Madlani, with their candidate to be announced by next Wednesday.
Zack Polanski, the leader of the Green Party in England and Wales, is reportedly being backed by local party members to contest the upcoming Holborn and St Pancras byelection. The seat became vacant following the resignation of Keir Starmer.
Sources within the Green Party suggest that local members are supportive of Polanski's candidacy, with no strong opposition expected. Nominations are anticipated to open soon, and a candidate is likely to be selected by the end of the following week. Polanski expressed excitement about the potential for a "referendum on ending rip-off Britain" if he were to stand.
However, the move carries risks, as the constituency is traditionally a safe seat for the Labour Party. Polanski might consider contesting a different seat in Hackney, where the Green Party has recently seen electoral success, if a suitable opportunity arises.
Labour is also preparing for the byelection, with potential candidates including Sagal Abdi-Wali, the current leader of Camden council, who has a strong local connection and a compelling personal story. Other mooted Labour candidates are Adam Hug, Nash Ali, and Rishi Madlani. Labour is expected to announce its candidate by the following Wednesday.