Polanski vows to carry on as Green leader after losing Holborn seat Labour held since 1983
From the Newshound archive · first published 7 October 2026 · last updated 9 October 2026.
Zack Polanski lost the Holborn and St Pancras by-election to Labour's Camden Council leader Sagal Abdi-Wali, who secured 45% of the vote to his 33%, a majority of 3,364. The defeat came hours after Prime Minister Andy Burnham demanded Polanski reverse his party's conference vote declaring Zionism is racism, calling it "completely wrong" and showing "terrible judgement". Polanski was defiant, insisting "of course I can carry on as leader", but faces mounting pressure from within his own party.
Caroline Lucas, who led the Greens from 2016 to 2018, said Polanski "should have been there and should have voted" — and warned 'the jury is out' on his leadership.
A Green activist elected to the party's disciplinary committee reportedly compared Jewish Israelis to Nazis and expressed support for Hamas on social media.
Dr Dave Rich of the Community Security Trust warned the activists behind the Zionism motion intend to 'lead a witch hunt against any Jews in the party who are not sufficiently pure enough for them.'