Leader of the Green Party Zack Polanski has been selected as the party’s candidate for the Holborn and St Pancras by-election.
Hannah Spencer, the Green MP for Gorton and Denton, said the party’s members overwhelmingly backed Polanski to be the candidate in favour of local councillor Hamza Chowdhury.
Polanski said: “Holborn and St Pancras, I am here to fight for you.”
The Green Party leader spoke about how Camden was his home when he first moved to London 20 years ago and how he has lived and worked in Holborn and St Pancras in the years since.
He added: “I love this place. But I know times are tough here in Holborn and St Pancras. So many people are really struggling right now.
“People are telling me it’s getting harder to live here, housing costs keep going up. I keep hearing from people who don’t know if they’re going to be able to afford the bills this month.”
He added voting Green would send a clear message that the people of Holborn and St Pancras demand better for wider communities.
Polanski’s decision to run in this by-election does come with wider political motives however.
He said: “This election is about putting pressure on Andy Burnham.”
Polanski added that sending a Green MP to parliament who will work with the Prime Minister constructively, and challenge him on the gaps in his plans, would have benefits for the country, the government and the people of Holborn and St Pancras.
If successful, Polanski will take the seat previously held by former Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer who stepped down earlier this month.
The by-election will take place on October 8.
Feature image taken by Yusuf Tamanna
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