George Galloway fights Zack Polanski in key Holborn by-election from 'exile' in South Africa

George Galloway has said he is fighting the Holborn and St Pancras by-election “from exile” in South Africa.

The leader of the Workers Party of Britain (WPB) has entered the crunch contest to replace Sir Keir Starmer in the north London seat.

Galloway, 72, is currently on a speaking tour in South Africa and has events scheduled until October 4, just four days before voters are set to go to the polls in Camden.

His party told The Standard he is awaiting confirmation from the Home Office that he is “free to carry on with political campaigning” before he fights the by-election on the ground.

“Thanks to Keir Starmer I am having to fight a parliamentary by-election for his old constituency of Holborn and St Pancras from exile in Africa, in South Africa to be precise, where I spent some of the best days of my life,” Mr Galloway said in an Instagram post.

“So don’t feel sorry for me. But cry for British democracy.”

“In [Gorton and Denton] Manchester, just a couple of months ago we supported the by-election victory of the Green Party so don’t call us sectarian,” Mr Galloway said.

“We stood aside in Manchester but the Green Party stands aside for nobody ever.”

Shortly before he announced he would be a contender, he said: “I might be coming back to Britain because there's a by-election pending in Holborn and St Pancras, and unless the Green Party come to the table and make us an offer we can't refuse, we will be standing.

“And if we're standing, it will almost certainly be me that is the candidate.”

George Galloway has posted pictures and video of him in South Africa in recent days

George Galloway/Instagram

Activists for the WPB have been out campaigning in the north London by-election, triggered by former Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer quitting as the local MP.

He was reported to have gone into “self-imposed exile” in Russia after counter-terrorism police stopped him and his wife at Gatwick Airport in September 2025.

Asked about his whereabouts, a WPB spokesman told the Standard: “There is no mystery. George is currently on a speaking tour in South Africa, where he worked in the service of the ANC in the 1980's fighting against apartheid. Videos and footage from social media is readily available, George is speaking to packed out venues.

“George's home address since moving out of London with his family has been in Scotland. He was detained along with his wife and party chairwoman Gayatri unjustly by counter terrorism officers at Gatwick airport for nine hours in total, and subsequently released.

“This also happened in 2004. In 2004 the Head of Special Branch (Ports) issued a public apology and confirmed he was free to carry on with political campaigning.

“We are awaiting a similar message from the police or Home Office so that he can hit the ground in Holborn & St Pancras, where Workers Party campaigners are meeting many people relieved to be given a choice in this election.”

Green leader Zack Polanski campaigning in Holborn and St Pancras

AFP/Getty

The Home Office has been contacted for comment.

Mr Galloway and Putri Gayatri Pertiwi, the party's deputy chair, were detained in 2025 when they were believed to have been returning to the UK from Moscow via Abu Dhabi.

The Metropolitan Police said a man in his 70s and woman in her 40s were stopped by counter-terrorism officers under the Counter Terrorism and Border Security Act, but neither of them were arrested and they were "allowed on their way".

The WPB slammed what it described as "politically motivated intimidation" and claimed freedom of speech was lying "on the scrap heap".

A Met Police spokesman said at the time: "We can confirm that counter-terrorism officers at Gatwick airport stopped a man in his 70s and a woman in her 40s under schedule 3 of the Counter Terrorism and Border Security Act 2019.

"Neither of them were arrested and they were allowed on their way."

Schedule 3 to the Counter-Terrorism and Border Security Act 2019 allows police to stop, question, search and detain a person at a port or the border area in Britain to determine if they have engaged in hostile activity.

Mr Galloway last stood for election in the Scottish Parliament in May, where polled 0.4 per cent of the vote in Glasgow.

He told The Sun ahead of the election: “I am living overseas with my family and working as normal. I confirm if elected I will take my seat at Holyrood.”