- In the last general election, independent pro-Gaza candidate Andrew Feinstein won 19 per cent of the vote, and the Green candidate won another 10 per cent against Starmer’s loveless landslide (his share of the vote went down 17 points, to below 50 per cent), which could provide a strong base for a by-election spectacular – if the right candidate could mobilise the anti-Labour protest vote.
- Zack Polanski, who previously ducked the chance to stand in Gorton and Denton, the Greater Manchester seat won by Hannah Spencer, said he wanted to put himself forward for a London seat.
- Polanski was thought to have his eye on Diane Abbott’s Hackney North and Stoke Newington seat when she retires, because he lives there, but today a Green party spokesperson said: “Zack has always made it clear he would like to be a London MP. London has been his home for over 20 years.”
- Polanski’s problem is that he has had a bad six months, making the same sort of mistakes over as Jeremy Corbyn did.
- The Green Party’s support in national opinion polls has ebbed, partly as a result of Polanski's mistakes and partly because of the arrival of Prime Minister Burnham.
- On the Labour side, it is now an ancient tradition, a bit like applying to be the steward of the Manor of Northstead or the Chiltern Hundreds, that journalists should speculate about David Miliband seeking to be the Labour candidate. Provided that the party chooses a solid candidate, the Burnham effect will be enough to retain the seat, as the new prime minister has calmed the anti-politics rage a little, and Polanski will fail to catch the wave at the right moment.
Keir Starmer's resignation has set the stage for a significant London by-election, prompting speculation about potential candidates. Green Party's Zack Polanski is keen on the seat, having expressed a desire to represent London, where he has lived for over 20 years.2
Polanski's ambitions come at a time when Labour is weighing its options for a candidate. The Burnham effect, referring to the political shift following the new Prime Minister's rise, could play a crucial role in the by-election's outcome. Observers note that if Labour selects a strong candidate, they may retain the seat despite the challenges posed by Polanski's recent missteps and the Green Party's declining support in national polls.
In the previous election, independent candidate Andrew Feinstein garnered 19% of the vote, while the Green candidate secured another 10%, indicating a potential base for anti-Labour sentiment that could be mobilized in the upcoming by-election. However, Polanski's recent performance has raised concerns, with some suggesting he has made mistakes reminiscent of former Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn.
As the political landscape evolves, the outcome of this by-election could signal broader trends in voter sentiment and party dynamics in London and beyond.
“Polanski's path is complicated by a rough six months and ebbing Green poll support, partly due to Prime Minister Burnham's calming effect. In the last general election, independent Andrew Feinstein took 19% and the Green candidate 10%, showing a potential anti-Labour protest base.”
independent.co.uk
