Key facts
- Zack Polanski stated his leadership of the Green Party of England and Wales is not dependent on winning the Holborn and St Pancras byelection.
- Polanski described the byelection as "probably 50/50 right now" and "really on a knife edge."
- Senior Green Party figures fear a byelection defeat could harm Polanski's leadership.
- Polanski believes decisions on North Sea oil and gas projects Rosebank and Jackdaw have been delayed until after the byelection.
- Polanski stated his priorities are the cost of living, nationalizing Thames Water, and ending the conflict in Gaza.
Zack Polanski, leader of the Green Party of England and Wales, has asserted that his position is secure regardless of the outcome of the upcoming Holborn and St Pancras byelection. Polanski described the contest for Keir Starmer's former seat as "50/50" and "on a knife edge," while acknowledging that some within the party privately fear a defeat could undermine his leadership.
Polanski maintained that while he wants to win the seat, his leadership authority is not contingent upon it. He highlighted the byelection's broader implications for national politics, particularly concerning climate policy and energy decisions. Polanski suggested that decisions on North Sea oil and gas projects, such as Rosebank and Jackdaw, have been delayed until after the byelection, implying a political calculation by Labour.