Key Points

• Galloway Declares For By-Election: Former MP George Galloway has announced he will be contesting the upcoming Holborn and St Pancras by-election, running under the banner of the Workers Party of Britain.
• Setback For Green Leader: Galloway’s participation in the election is seen as a huge set-back for Green Party Leader Zack Polanski, as it could split the non-Labour left vote.
• Chris Williamson Resigns from Party Leadership: Chris Williamson has quit as the Deputy Leader of the Workers Party of Britain, owing to Galloway’s decision to contest the by-election in north London.
• Division Amongst Internal Left Wingers: Williamson backed Zack Polanski for the upcoming by-election, calling on left wing voters to support the Green Party leader.
• Endorsement of Independent Base: Andrew Feinstein, who garnered 7,312 votes as an independent candidate in 2024, called on his supporters to vote for Polanski.
• Date For Election Announced: The by-election, which was called following Sir Keir Starmer’s resignation as an MP, has been set for October 8, 2026.

Holborn (North London News) September 17, 2026 – Zack Polanski was hit by a major blow with George Galloway standing as the candidate for the Workers Party of Britain in the Holborn and St Pancras by-election. The Green Party leader had been expected to sweep up a large chunk of 7,300 votes which independent candidate Andrew Feinstein won in the north London seat at the 2024 general election. But Mr Galloway’s decision to throw his hat into the ring for the by-election contest threatens to split the Left-leaning, anti-Labour vote.

The high-stakes electoral battle, scheduled for October 8, was triggered following Sir Keir Starmer’s resignation as Member of Parliament. As reported by Tristan Kirk and Nicholas Cecil of the Evening Standard, Mr Galloway’s sudden entry into the race has injected severe volatility into what was previously expected to be a direct showdown between Labour candidate Sagal Abdi-Wali and the Greens.

According to political editor Nicholas Cecil of the Evening Standard, former MP Chris Williamson has resigned as Deputy Leader of the Workers Party of Britain over Mr Galloway’s decision to contest the north London by-election. As quoted by Mr Cecil, Mr Williamson stated:

“I have a huge amount of respect for George Galloway, but I believe we should get behind Zack Polanski on this occasion.”

Why Has Chris Williamson Resigned From the Workers Party?

The decision by Mr Galloway to run has exposed deep fissures within his own party. As documented by news reports from the Evening Standard, Mr Williamson broke ranks with the Workers Party leadership, arguing that the priority on the Left should be mounting a unified campaign against the ruling Labour Party.

In statements reported by Nicholas Cecil of the Evening Standard, Mr Williamson praised the Green Party leader’s stance on key economic and social fronts, stating that he supported Mr Polanski’s approach to “State intervention in the economy, the war on drugs, illegal immigration and the criminal justice system.”

While acknowledging ideological differences—most notably over the Greens’ current pro-EU and pro-NATO stances—Mr Williamson insisted that tactical unity was essential. As quoted by Mr Cecil of the Evening Standard, Mr Williamson remarked:

“My view is that we should agree where we agree, which is on most things, and simply have fraternal disagreements where we don’t.”

How Does Galloway’s Candidate Threaten Zack Polanski’s Campaign?

At the 2024 general election, Labour secured victory in Holborn and St Pancras with a majority of 11,572 votes, with Sir Keir Starmer pulling 18,884 votes. However, independent candidate Andrew Feinstein mounted an aggressive left-wing campaign, securing 7,312 votes, while the Green Party placed third with 4,030 votes.

Ahead of the October by-election, Mr Feinstein publicly urged those who supported his campaign two years ago to transfer their backing to Mr Polanski. Political analysts had suggested that if the vast majority of Mr Feinstein’s previous 7,312 supporters consolidated behind the Green Party leader, it would put Mr Polanski within reaching distance of an historic parliamentary victory over Labour.

However, as detailed by reporters at the Evening Standard, the arrival of Mr Galloway—who has served seven parliamentary terms across five different constituencies—stands to severely disrupt this consolidation. Mr Galloway retains strong appeal among specific demographics of left-leaning and Muslim voters within inner-city London seats. If Mr Galloway peels away several thousand votes from the anti-Labour coalition, he could effectively neutralize Mr Polanski’s surge and hand a clear pathway to Labour’s candidate, Camden Council Leader Sagal Abdi-Wali.

What Is George Galloway’s Stance Against the Green Party?

In statements released following his nomination, Mr Galloway launched an immediate attack against the Green Party and its leadership. As reported by the Morning Star, Mr Galloway denounced Mr Polanski, taking aim at the Green Party’s platform.

As quoted by the Morning Star, Mr Galloway stated that Green Party

“policies on drugs, abortion, euthanasia, sexuality, crime/punishment, illegal immigration, energy, the economy, Israel/Palestine, Ukraine, NATO, the EU are all profoundly alien to the mass of the British public.”

Furthermore, the Workers Party released an official statement emphasizing its distinct platform, declaring:

“We are a socialist party and not a liberal or ‘leftist’ one. We stand for British withdrawal from Nato and an end to British involvement in the war in Ukraine. No other party in this by-election can or will say this.”

When challenged on social media regarding his decision to stand against the Greens and potentially divide the left-wing vote, Mr Galloway referenced previous parliamentary contests, including the narrow defeat of pro-Palestine campaigner Leanne Mohamad in Ilford North during the 2024 election. As reported by the Morning Star, Mr Galloway stated:

“Wherever we stand, we have to fight the Greens. They stand down nowhere. If not for them, Leanne would be an MP…”

Background of the Development

The Holborn and St Pancras constituency, located in central and north London, has been a safe Labour stronghold since its creation in 1983. For eleven years, it was represented by Sir Keir Starmer, who led the Labour Party to a general election victory in July 2024 before stepping down from his parliamentary seat in early September 2026.

During the 2024 general election, the seat saw a significant shift in its usual voting dynamics. While Labour retained the seat, independent candidate Andrew Feinstein, running on a platform heavily focused on international affairs and social justice, mounted a formidable challenge, gaining over 7,000 votes.

Following Sir Keir’s resignation, the Green Party sought to capitalize on this shifting voter landscape by selecting its high-profile leader, Zack Polanski, to contest the by-election. With Mr Feinstein declining to run again and endorsing Mr Polanski, the Green campaign aimed to unite anti-establishment, pro-palestinian, and eco-socialist voters under a single umbrella.

However, George Galloway’s Workers Party of Britain—which achieved a dramatic by-election win in Rochdale in early 2024 before losing the seat in the general election—has consistently sought to establish itself as the primary radical alternative to Labour. Mr Galloway’s entry into Holborn and St Pancras represents the latest chapter in a long-standing feud between radical left factions and green-left movements over which party truly represents anti-establishment voters in urban constituencies.

Prediction: How This Development Can Affect Left-Leaning Voters and the Election Outcome

The entry of George Galloway into the Holborn and St Pancras by-election significantly reshapes the electoral landscape, with distinct ramifications for left-leaning voters, political strategists, and the broader political parties involved.

• Fracturing of the Anti-Labour Vote: For voters in Holborn and St Pancras looking to register a protest against the Labour government, Mr Galloway’s presence creates a classic “spoiler” dynamic. Left-wing, anti-war, and progressive voters are now divided between Zack Polanski’s Green platform and George Galloway’s Workers Party platform. This split virtually guarantees that the anti-Labour vote will be diluted across multiple candidates rather than concentrated behind a single challenger.
• Increased Probability of a Labour Retain: The primary beneficiary of this split is Labour candidate Sagal Abdi-Wali. With the opposition vote fragmented across the Greens, the Workers Party, Reform UK, and various independents, the threshold required for Labour to hold the seat drops significantly. Even if Labour experiences a decline in its raw vote count, a split opposition allows the party to secure victory on a simple plurality under the First-Past-The-Post system.
• Escalation of Left-Wing Infighting: Chris Williamson’s high-profile resignation signals growing ideological friction within minor left-wing parties. Rather than presenting a unified front against mainstream parties, radical left organizations may spend the campaign engaging in bitter public disputes over foreign policy, social values, and tactical voting. This infighting risks alienating undecided voters who might otherwise have considered an alternative to the main political parties.