Has Zack Polanski peaked? Green Party faithful say he'll survive defeat in Holborn & St Pancras by-election

Zack Polanski’s leadership of the Green Party will survive if he loses the Holborn and St Pancras by-election, party members have insisted amid suggestions his popularity has peaked.

The Green leader is facing questions over his position after a dip in polls for the party in the wake of Andy Burnham replacing Sir Keir Starmer as Prime Minister.

He has encouraged members and activists to skip the event to knock on doors and drum up support in the constituency.

Green Party leader Zack Polanski is joined by party MPs Hannah Spencer (left) and Sian Berry (right)

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He claimed said that "sustained pressure" from his party had forced Labour into changing its stance on issues including climate change and the war in Gaza.

The London Assembly leader rejected suggestions that he had reached the limits of his recent surge in popularity and told the Standard last week that he hopes to pull off “one of the biggest upsets in British political history”.

Mr Polanski has pointed to his party’s performance at the 2024 general election and council polls held in May, where the Greens seized control of six local authorities in the capital.

Diane Gould, a Wealden Green Party councillor and the Pearly Queen of St Pancras, told the Standard: “The Greens have only just started. It gained momentum when Zack first came in and now the momentum is building.”

James Croft, co-chair of Green Humanists, said: “Politics changes and you get new people coming in and out of politics and you are going to have to find different strategies to respond to different political opposition. But I don’t think there is any reason to think [Mr Polanski’s] popularity has peaked. He’s just getting started.

He added: “The fact Labour is now moving on to our territory is demonstration we were in the right place the whole time.

“He should win . I think he would be an absolutely great member of parliament.”

Labour candidate Sagal Abdi-Wali is the favourite to win the Holborn and St Pancras by-election

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Prashant, from the Manchester Green Party, told the Standard that he feared Labour’s new stance on Gaza and Foreign Secretary Ed Miliband imposing sanctions on Israeli settlements could persuade wavering voters to stick with Labour.

He said:“I personally feel that Zack does have a good chance of winning... I also fear that Labour’s made some really really crafty moves right before the election.

“The whole announcement made by Ed Miliband on them sanctioning settlers as well as companies that are involved in constructing on illegally occupied land.

“I feel like if there is any on the fence Labour/ Green voters, I have a fear that is going to tip them more towards Labour.”

Asked if Mr Polanski’s leadership can survive him losing the by-election, Prashant added: “I think it definitely will. I don’t think the results of one by-election should determine the fate of the leadership of the Green Party.

“I think Zack has done extremely well. At the same time, my advice to Green members is Zack is just one person. He is also an equal member of the Green Party. We all have our bits to do, so pitch in and don’t pin it all down on one person.”