Starmer stepped down from the House of Commons this week to focus more on international affairs. He resigned as prime minister earlier this year after losing support in his party, with Andy Burnham succeeding him. The date for the by-election has not been set yet.
Polanski still requires selection by local Green Party members, expected to occur next week.
In his campaign pitch, Polanski stated, “voters will have someone who will always fight their corner — never scared of big donors or the party whip.”
He criticized Labour, saying, “Too often Labour has stood up for corporations and big money. I will stand up for people struggling to pay their bills.”
Polanski has increased Green Party membership and led a strong performance in the May local elections but faced scrutiny over candidate vetting and his social media. He has been a London Assembly member scrutinizing Mayor Sadiq Khan since 2021.
Starmer held the Holborn and St Pancras seat in 2024 with an 11,572 majority but faced strong challenges from a left-wing independent and the Greens.
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