Zack Polanski gets huge boost in Holborn by-election battle between Greens and Labour

Zack Polanski has gained the full backing in the Holborn and St Pancras by-election from an independent candidate who came second in the constituency at the 2024 general election.

Andrew Feinstein urged the 7,300 people who supported him two years ago to vote Green at the by-election on October 8.

“As an independent I received 20% of the vote in Holborn & St.Pancras against Keir Starmer,” he posted on X.

“I strongly encourage all those who supported me to vote for @ZackPolanski so we can consign not just Starmer but Starmerism too, to the dustbin of history.”

Zack Polanski campaigning in the Holborn and St Pancras by-election AFP/Getty At the general election, Labour won the north London seat with a majority, of 11,572.

Sir Keir gained 18,884 votes, with the Greens far behind in third place with 4,030.

If the bulk of these people switched to supporting Mr Polanski the by-election race could get close.

However, Andy Burnham has injected new hope into Labour ranks, stepping up the fight against the Greens for Left-leaning voters in London and beyond.

Andy Burnham and Sagal Abdi-Wali, Labour’s candidate for Holborn and St Pancras Labour Sir Keir’s administration focused more on people who had deserted Labour for Nigel Farage’s Reform UK.

However, he faced criticism from some Labour MPs who pointed to polls which showed their party losing more voters to the Greens and the Liberal Democrats than to Reform.

Mr Burnham has struck a more positive note, with his devolution revolution and action to ease the cost-of-living crisis, than Labour had during Sir Keir’s premiership.

He has also taken a tougher stance against Israel, with sanctions announced last week over illegal settlements in the West Bank.

The new Prime Minister, who cancelled a series of events planned for the start of the week after the death of his father , made a surprise visit to the north London constituency last Thursday

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