By-election in London: Green leader Zack Polanski defeated in Keir Starmer's former constituency

The leader of the British Greens, Zack Polanski, was defeated in a test vote for him and his party during a by-election in the former London constituency of former Labor Prime Minister Keir Starmer. Candidate Sagal Abdi-Wali retained the constituency of Holborn and St Pancras, in central London, for Labor at the end of this election organized after the departure of Keir Starmer from the government at the end of July.

Architect of a spectacular rise of the Greens since his arrival at the head of the party in September 2025, Zack Polanski, 43, indicated that he intended to continue to lead the party. “Yes, absolutely,” he responded to a question to this effect from the SkyNews channel. A party spokesperson, quoted by the British Press Association news agency, said that daring to “take the battle against Labor in one of its safest bastions shows how far the Greens have progressed”.

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A time neck and neck with Labor

Elected well established in this district where she arrived in the 1990s as a refugee after fleeing Somalia with her family, Ms. Abdi-Wali collected 45% of the votes, ahead of Zach Polanski who totaled 33%. The Conservative candidate came third, followed by the anti-immigration Reform UK party and then the Lib Dems (centrists). Since the arrival at their head of Mr. Polanski, the Greens have taken an MP seat from Labor in February near Manchester, bringing five to the number of their elected representatives in the House of Commons.

The polls showed them for a time neck and neck with Labor in several constituencies, thanks to the unpopularity of Mr. Starmer, ultimately replaced by Andy Burnham, and the new line supported by Mr. Polanski. An expert in communication on social networks, he gave his party a turn to the left, notably with a pro-Palestinian speech that was very critical of Israel which attracted disappointed Labor supporters.

But its image has deteriorated following several controversies, notably for comments after a series of arsons and attempted arsons against the Jewish community in London in the spring. He is now the most unpopular party leader in the country, ahead of Reform UK leader Nigel Farage, according to a survey published on Saturday by the think tank More in Common.