Zack Polanski, leader of the Green Party, has not attended a full session at City Hall since being selected as the party's candidate for the October 8 by-election in Holborn and St Pancras, the seat formerly held by Sir Keir Starmer. The London Assembly Member, who earns an annual salary of £66,390, has given apologies for four committee sessions and left Mayor's Question Time early after asking a question to the Mayor of London since declaring his interest in the Westminster role on September 3.
Absences Since Candidate Selection
Mr Polanski, elected as an Assembly Member in 2021, was confirmed as the party's candidate in the constituency on September 11. Since then, he has skipped sessions of the Economy, Culture and Skills Committee, of which he is the Deputy Chair, as well as the Fire Committee, Budget and Performance Committee, and an all-Assembly Plenary meeting.
The Green Party leader has focused his efforts on the campaign for Holborn and St Pancras after the former Prime Minister resigned in early September. This includes discouraging members from attending the party's annual conference in Brighton last weekend and advising them to campaign in North London instead.
Attendance Record Under Scrutiny
A London Assembly source told the Local Democracy Reporting Service (LDRS): "Of course these are special circumstances, but if Zack can prioritise a somewhat selective presence at his party conference in Brighton, surely he can find time to do the job he’s actually been elected to do, as well as chasing the job he’d rather have?"
Analysis of his City Hall record shows that since being elected in May 2021, Mr Polanski has recorded 26 absences in an expected 257 Assembly and committee meetings. Half of those absences have come since September 2, 2025, when he was elected as party leader.
Response from Polanski's Spokesperson
A spokesperson for Mr Polanski said: "Throughout his time as an elected London Assembly Member, Zack together with his Green Party London Assembly colleagues, has maintained exemplary attendance at Assembly meetings. Over the past month, as Zack has been standing for election, his already busy schedule alongside his responsibilities as party leader has meant that, on occasion, he has had to prioritise campaign commitments."
The spokesperson added: "Zack has always sent his apologies in advance, and it is common practice in the Assembly for colleagues to stand in for members when they are unable to attend. Other political groups, including Labour and the Conservatives, regularly do the same, while in some cases they do not even arrange for a substitute. At the last budget meeting, Caroline Russell substituted for Zack, as the focus was TfL capital investment and Caroline is the City Hall Greens’ lead on Transport. This is a common practice, allowing colleagues with relevant experience to contribute to meetings with a specific theme or focus, and is a regular occurrence across Assembly committees."
In February, Mr Polanski left Mayor's Question Time early, shortly after asking his question to Sir Sadiq Khan but before voting on the GLA's annual budget. The vote is the only occasion that the London Assembly can overturn a Mayor's decision. At the time, Leonie Cooper, Deputy Leader of the Labour Group on the London Assembly, told the LDRS: "It is completely unacceptable that he did not even remain in the chamber for a full hour or vote on the Mayor of London’s Budget - one of the main responsibilities of a London Assembly Member."
Last month the LDRS revealed that Mr Polanski planned to step down from the London Assembly if elected as an MP. The by-election in Holborn and St Pancras takes place on Thursday, October 8.
