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Polanski defends leadership of Greens and says he will not step down after byelection defeat by Labour – UK politics live
UK NewsPolitics•October 9, 2026 at 11:28 AMNational

Polanski defends leadership of Greens and says he will not step down after byelection defeat by Labour – UK politics live

By Andrew Sparrow (now); Hamish Mackay and Adam Fulton (earlier)•The Guardian - UK News

Sagal Abdi-Wali defeats Green party leader Zack Polanski to retain the Holborn and St Pancras seat for LabourReport: Labour wins Holborn and St Pancras byelectionAnalysis: defeat will disappoint Greens – but there may also be reliefActivists in Camden have suggested the Greens’ decision to back the anti-Zionism motion has cost them votes in the byelection.Councillors for both Labour the Liberal Democrats told the Press Association that voters had informed them they would not be backing the Green party after it passed the motion last weekend calling Zionism racism.It is clear now we will come a close second in this by-election. Taking the fight to Labour in one of its safest seats shows just how far the Greens have come.Voters want us to keep Labour’s feet to the fire on affordable housing, public ownership of water and the climate crisis. Greens will be there every single day, holding Labour to account and demanding the change people voted for. Continue reading...

Sagal Abdi-Wali defeats Green party leader Zack Polanski to retain the Holborn and St Pancras seat for Labour

Activists in Camden have suggested the Greens’ decision to back the anti-Zionism motion has cost them votes in the byelection.

Councillors for both Labour the Liberal Democrats told the Press Association that voters had informed them they would not be backing the Green party after it passed the motion last weekend calling Zionism racism.

It is clear now we will come a close second in this by-election. Taking the fight to Labour in one of its safest seats shows just how far the Greens have come.

Voters want us to keep Labour’s feet to the fire on affordable housing, public ownership of water and the climate crisis. Greens will be there every single day, holding Labour to account and demanding the change people voted for.

Continue reading...