Polanski says he doesn’t need to win ‘50/50’ byelection to stay Green leader

The Guardian Politics Friday 02 October 2026, 11:04 UTC By Aletha Adu Political correspondent 1 min read

Key Points

Head of party in England and Wales says vote in Keir Starmer’s old seat is ‘high stakes for people in Holborn and St Pancras, and for the climate crisis’Zack Polanski has insisted his authority as leader of the Green party of England and Wales does not depend on winning next week’s Holborn and St Pancras byelection, amid suggestions that the party’s popularity has peaked. Polanski, who is trying to take Keir Starmer’s former seat from Labour, described the contest as “probably 50/50 right...

Head of party in England and Wales says vote in Keir Starmer’s old seat is ‘high stakes for people in Holborn and St Pancras, and for the climate crisis’

Zack Polanski has insisted his authority as leader of the Green party of England and Wales does not depend on winning next week’s Holborn and St Pancras byelection, amid suggestions that the party’s popularity has peaked.

Polanski, who is trying to take Keir Starmer’s former seat from Labour, described the contest as “probably 50/50 right now” and “really on a knife edge”.

Polanski (PERSON) Green (ORG) England (LOCATION) Wales (LOCATION) Keir Starmer’s (PERSON) Holborn (LOCATION) St Pancras (LOCATION) the Green party of (ORG) Keir Starmer (PERSON) Labour (ORG)

Originally published by The Guardian Politics Read original →

Polanski says he doesn’t need to win ‘50/50’ byelection to stay Green leader

Related Stories

Robertson's Scotland career in numbers as 100th cap looms

The Snowman creator Raymond Briggs’ house is up for sale — complete with secret room

Woman who killed abusive partner has murder conviction overturned

No one could terrify like Cronos, the black metal innovator who reignited rock’s hellraising attitude