Politics · United Kingdom · 7 hrs ago
Polanski says Greens remain a threat to Labour after by-election setback
Green Party leader Zack Polanski says his party lost the Holborn and St Pancras by-election but tripled its share of the vote there.
Labour has held the constituency since 1983, and the Greens had hoped to win it.
Polanski says the result shows the party is now a stronger challenger to Labour in its left-wing strongholds.
He points to other Green election gains, including a parliamentary by-election win and victories in local and mayoral contests.
He says those successes have influenced Labour’s leadership and some government policies.
The party has also faced criticism over a conference motion declaring “Zionism is racism,” which Polanski says he finds imperfect and disagrees with in some respects.
He argues that the Greens’ next phase will be harder as Labour’s new prime minister, Andy Burnham, approaches his first budget.
Zack Polanski said the Green Party remains a greater threat to Labour in seats such as Holborn and St Pancras despite losing the by-election.
He said the Greens tripled their vote share in the constituency, which Labour has held comfortably since 1983.
Polanski said the party’s electoral successes had helped prompt changes in the Labour government.
He acknowledged that the party faces a more challenging political landscape and that a conference motion on Zionism had stirred strong feelings.
Polanski said he disagreed with parts of the motion, including its position on the future shape of a state in Israel and Palestine.
- Who
- Green Party leader Zack Polanski and the Green Party.
- What
- Polanski said the Greens remain a threat to Labour after the party lost the Holborn and St Pancras by-election, where it tripled its vote share.
- When
- Polanski’s article was published on 11 October 2026. The by-election date is not stated.
- Where
- Holborn and St Pancras, a constituency in the UK.
- Why
- Polanski said the Greens had made significant electoral gains and forced Labour to campaign hard in a seat it once took for granted.
This story does not have two clearly opposing sides.
our party represents a greater threat to Labour in places like this than ever before.
We tripled our vote share in a seat that Labour has comfortably held since 1983 and forced it to campaign hard in a constituency it would once have taken for granted.
We have transformed the electoral landscape and, as the first nationwide serious threat to Labour on its left in modern political history, we are here to stay.
Polanski stood for leader of the Green Party.
The Greens recorded their first parliamentary by-election win and council and mayoral victories in former Labour strongholds, according to Polanski.
The Guardian published Polanski’s article reflecting on the by-election setback and the party’s political position.
- By-election seat
- Holborn and St Pancras
- Green vote share
- Tripled, according to Polanski
- Labour’s hold on the seat
- Since 1983
- Polanski’s leadership bid
- 2025
- Article publication
- 11 October 2026
Sources
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