The Green Party leader in London, Zack Polanski, will resign from the London Assembly if he wins the Holborn and St Pancras by-election, the Local Democracy Reporting Service (LDRS) has learned.
Polanski, who has represented the Greens at City Hall since 2021, has declared his interest in standing in the constituency formerly held by Sir Keir Starmer, who resigned as Prime Minister earlier this week.
With the party gaining ground in the capital, insiders believe they have a realistic chance of taking the Labour stronghold in the forthcoming contest.
Polanski's dual role plans
Polanski, elected as party leader a year ago, is one of three Green Assembly Members. He has previously expressed a desire to run for Parliament, most likely at the next general election.
However, in an interview with the LDRS earlier this year, he stated he was committed to serving his full term, which runs until 2028.
“Right now I’m serving every single Londoner – in terms of a Parliamentary seat, I would love to run in one and it will definitely be in London,” Polanski said.
Green Party sources, though, have told the LDRS that if he is selected and elected, his time at City Hall would end.
No by-election for London-wide seat
Because Polanski is a London-wide Assembly Member rather than a constituency representative, there is no precedent for a by-election to replace him.
His colleague Zoe Garbett left the Assembly in May after being elected Mayor of Hackney, with Benali Hamdache taking her seat. Garbett herself joined in 2024 after Sian Berry stepped down to run for the Brighton Pavilion parliamentary seat.
Hina Bokhari, leader of the Liberal Democrats on the Assembly, criticised the potential move: “This could potentially mean another Green Assembly Member seeing City Hall as a stepping stone for their own personal progression. The role of scrutinising the Mayor of London is a serious job serving the people of London and should not be used for political convenience.”
Under electoral rules, Polanski could hold both positions, but his salary would be reduced by two-thirds. A City Hall source said this was to avoid “double hatting”.
