Green leader Polanski to stand in Starmer's former seat

Green Party leader Zack Polanski announced on September 3 that he intends to stand as his party's candidate in the Holborn and St Pancras byelection, setting up a significant challenge to Labour in the north London constituency vacated by former Prime Minister Keir Starmer. Polanski confirmed his plans in an interview with the Camden New Journal, the local newspaper where Starmer also announced his resignation as MP earlier in the week. "I have lived and worked in this community over many years, I know it well and I love it," Polanski said. "It represents so many of the things that make London so special. I am so excited by the prospect of representing this place in Parliament." He framed the contest as a direct fight between Labour and the Greens, focusing his campaign on making life more affordable for residents. "Too often Labour has stood up for corporations and big money. I will stand up for people struggling to pay their bills," he stated. The byelection was triggered after Starmer, who had been ousted as Prime Minister by Andy Burnham in July, announced on September 2 that he would quit as an MP.