Green Party leader Zack Polanski is considering standing in Holborn and St Pancras after Sir Keir Starmer announced that he was leaving Parliament.
The contest will be the first election in the constituency since Starmer ceased to be prime minister and presents Andy Burnham with an unexpectedly awkward test in one of Labour’s safest London seats.
A Green Party spokesperson opened the door to Polanski becoming its candidate, saying:
“Zack has always made it clear he would like to be a London MP. London has been his home for over 20 years.”
No candidacy has been confirmed and the Greens will still need to complete their selection process. However, choosing their national leader would turn what might otherwise have been a routine Labour defence into a closely watched contest.
Andrew Feinstein, the independent left-wing candidate who finished second to Starmer at the 2024 general election, could also return. Whether Polanski and Feinstein both stand may prove crucial to the eventual result.
Why Labour cannot dismiss the challenge
Starmer retained Holborn and St Pancras comfortably in 2024, but the result contained warning signs for Labour.
According to the official parliamentary result, Starmer received 18,884 votes, equivalent to 48.9 per cent of the total. His vote share fell by 17.3 percentage points.
Feinstein came second with 7,312 votes, while Green candidate David Stansell received 4,030. Between them, the two left-wing challengers attracted 11,342 votes, or 29.3 per cent.
Starmer’s majority over Feinstein was 11,572.
Those figures do not make the constituency an obvious Green gain. Even the combined Feinstein and Green vote remained 7,542 behind Starmer, and there is no guarantee that voters who supported an independent candidate in 2024 would automatically move to Polanski.
They do show that there is already a substantial constituency vote to Labour’s left.
A contest involving both Polanski and Feinstein could divide that vote again. If one declined to stand and supported the other, Labour would face a more concentrated challenge.
Who is Zack Polanski?
Polanski has represented the Greens on the London Assembly since 2021 and became leader of the Green Party of England and Wales in 2025.
His official London Assembly biography lists housing, electoral reform, universal basic income and London’s cultural sector among his main interests. Before entering elected politics, he worked in hospitality, acting and youth services and lived as a property guardian.
That background would allow the Greens to build a campaign around local concerns including housing costs, rents and public services.
Polanski has also sought to position the Greens as the principal alternative for voters who believe Labour has moved too far from the left. The party’s stronger polling and local election performances have given that claim more weight than it carried at the 2024 election.
As The Daily Britain has previously reported, the Greens have increasingly argued that they should receive the same political and media scrutiny as the larger Westminster parties.
A Westminster seat would give Polanski a platform in the Commons and make him the first Green leader for years to combine the national leadership with service as an MP.
Andrew Feinstein could complicate the contest
Feinstein is a former South African MP, anti-corruption campaigner and prominent supporter of Palestinian rights.
He ran against Starmer in 2024 on a platform that included housing, the NHS and Gaza. After finishing second, he described the result as remarkable for a campaign organised in only six weeks with a comparatively small budget.
The Camden New Journal reported that Feinstein had assembled a large volunteer operation and performed strongly among some of the constituency’s minority communities.
He subsequently became involved with Your Party but resigned following disagreements over its finances.
There has been no formal confirmation that Feinstein will contest the by-election. His decision could nevertheless determine whether Labour faces one strong challenger on its left or two candidates competing for much of the same electorate.
A negotiated arrangement is possible, but it cannot be assumed. Feinstein has his own local organisation and political identity, while the Greens may see the election as an opportunity to place their leader in Parliament.
Starmer brings his parliamentary career to an end
Starmer has represented Holborn and St Pancras since 2015, when he succeeded former Labour cabinet minister Frank Dobson.
He became Labour leader in 2020 and entered Downing Street following the party’s general election victory in 2024. He resigned as prime minister in July 2026 and was succeeded by Burnham.
Starmer had initially indicated that he intended to remain in the Commons as a backbench MP. He has now decided to leave Parliament and concentrate on international work covering defence, security, trade and technology.
He also intends to continue working on efforts to combat violence against women and girls.
Starmer said he was proud of his constituency work on affordable housing, education and support for young people affected by knife crime. His departure will become official through the parliamentary process used to allow MPs to relinquish their seats, after which the Commons can move the writ that formally starts the by-election.
Starmer’s decision has been criticised by the Conservatives because he previously said he intended to remain in Parliament after leaving Downing Street.
Conservative Party chairman Kevin Hollinrake said:
“It is fitting that his final act as a Member of Parliament is yet another U-turn, having pledged to stay on.”
The Conservatives have also attacked the cost of holding another by-election. However, their candidate finished fourth in Holborn and St Pancras in 2024 with 2,776 votes, leaving the party well behind Labour, Feinstein and the Greens.
A first electoral test for Burnham
Labour will remain the favourite when the campaign begins. The party has held the area for decades, retains an established local organisation and started the last election with a considerable lead.
The difficulty is that by-elections rarely follow the pattern of general elections. Turnout is often lower, governing parties can face protest votes and local campaigns receive a level of attention they would not normally attract.
Labour must also select a candidate capable of defending both Starmer’s local record and the direction taken by the Burnham government.
For the Greens, the calculation is different. Running Polanski would transform the contest into a direct battle between Labour and a nationally recognised challenger from its left. Even if the Greens failed to take the seat, a strong result could reinforce their argument that they are replacing Labour among progressive voters.
The numbers from 2024 suggest Labour begins with a clear advantage. They also explain why Polanski may decide that Starmer’s departure has presented him with an opportunity worth taking.
Count Binface hints at joining the race
The by-election could also attract a familiar novelty candidate.
Count Binface hinted that he may stand following Starmer’s announcement, responding:
“Can’t get a moment’s peace on this bloody planet.”
The satirical character, created by comedian Jonathan David Harvey, has contested several high-profile elections. He stood against Boris Johnson in Uxbridge and South Ruislip in 2019 and challenged Rishi Sunak in Richmond and Northallerton at the 2024 general election.
He has also twice run for mayor of London, finishing ahead of Britain First candidate Jayda Fransen in 2024.
His latest comment falls short of confirming another candidacy, but suggests the Holborn and St Pancras ballot could become considerably more crowded before nominations close.
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