Labour faces 'humdinger' battle with Greens in London by-election after Keir Starmer quits seat
Labour is facing a tough London by-election battle against an emboldened Green Party after Sir Keir Starmer announced he is quitting his Holborn & St Pancras seat.
The former Prime Minister revealed the move on Tuesday , saying he felt it was the “right time” to step down from the Commons and focus on new work on international affairs.
The looming contest in his north London constituency presents a major test of Andy Burnham's leadership, with Green leader Zack Polanski poised to challenge Labour.
The poll will come just months after the Greens made historic gains in London at May's local elections , seizing control of a string of councils at the expense of Labour.
Polling experts say the vote will be a major test of Mr Burnham's leadership since he took over from Sir Keir in July.
Politics professor at the University of Manchester Robert Ford wrote on X: "The seat has exceptionally high shares of non-white voters (66 per cent), graduates (51 per cent) and young ppl (47 per cent aged 16-39) – all groups that have swung Lab to Green in recent years.
The by-election could give Green Party leader Zack Polanski a path into the Commons PA Wire A further twist could come in the shape of Andrew Feinstein, an independent who came closest to beating Sir Keir in Holborn and St Pancras in the last general election.
Hinting at a willingness to do a deal with the Greens to deny Labour victory, he wrote on X:
"We must ensure that all progressive forces in Holborn & St. Pancras unite in order to deliver an MP who represents us & will work for us.
Sir Keir was replaced by Mr Burnham as prime minister and Labour leader in the summer after losing the support of his party in the wake of dire local election results.
He told the Camden New Journal : “It has been a huge honour and privilege to represent the best constituency in the country and to have taken over from Frank Dobson, who was such a great constituency MP and a member of the last Labour government.
“I will now focus on other things and that will be international affairs including defence, security, trade and technology in a fast-changing world.
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When will the Holborn & St Pancras by-election take place to replace Keir Starmer?
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