The by-election that will determine Zack Polanski's future

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Play Mute Current Time 0:00 / Duration 0:00 Loaded : 0% Stream Type LIVE Seek to live, currently playing live LIVE Remaining Time - 0:00 1x Playback Rate Picture-in-Picture Fullscreen ITV News Political Correspondent Harry Horton reports from King's Cross as a long night lay ahead for Labour and the Greens This wasn’t a by-election Andy Burnham wanted or expected. But he may well end up thanking his predecessor Keir Starmer for making it happen, because the result in Holborn and St Pancras could end up cementing Labour’s return to dominance on the left of British politics. Holborn and St Pancras has been a Labour stronghold since the constituency was created. There are no safe seats in by-elections though, and the Green Party showed in Gorton and Denton earlier this year that it can win over left-wing voters disenchanted with the Labour government. Zack Polanski has effectively been in hiding ever since his party's controversial vote on a motion defining Zionism as racism. Credit: PA Six weeks ago, the Green Party sensed an opportunity for an upset. When Keir Starmer stepped down as an MP shortly after his resignation as prime minister, there were groans within Labour at the prospect of another by-election. Step forward Zack Polanski, the Green Party’s leader for just over a year, and the man behind their surge in opinion polls. His leadership oversaw that by-election win in South East Manchester as well as the election of hundreds of new Green councillors in May’s local elections. That record has given Polanski the confidence to stand in this by-election as he attempts to become the Green Party’s sixth MP. But a lot has changed in British politics since May. Labour's candidate, Sagal Abdi-Wali, at a campaign event in September. Credit: PA Andy Burnham’s new premiership has seen a small but significant bounce in opinion polls for Labour. It has coincided with a drop in support for the Greens. Last weekend, the Green Party’s biggest ever party conference saw hundreds of new members approve a highly controversial motion proclaiming Zionism as a form of racism. Opposition parties called the vote “shameful” and “toxic”. Polanski has effectively been in hiding ever since as some Green MPs openly contemplate their future in the party. It is not the ideal way to spend the final week of a by-election campaign. Labour’s candidate is Sagal Abdi-Wali, the leader of Camden council who arrived in the constituency as a refugee in the early 90s. The result will show whether Andy Burnham’s Labour has managed to push back the Green Party’s surge and win back former voters. Credit: PA Her campaign has been boosted by a revitalised Labour Party. Burnham has taken a tougher stance on Israel, set out plans for greater public control over water and energy and opened the door to Britain rejoining the EU - all with great appeal to voters on the left. Other parties are standing in this by-election - but none are putting much effort into their campaign. It has been a two-horse race. The result in Holborn and St Pancras will show whether Andy Burnham’s Labour has managed to push back the Green Party’s surge and win back former voters. For Zack Polanski this result could determine his political future. If he can upset the odds and win, it would show the Green Party’s challenge to Labour is here to stay. Lose, and his leadership of the Green Party will be in serious jeopardy. Badenoch vows to slash inheritance tax in ‘battle for soul of the nation’ Green Party member behind anti-Zionism motion ‘close friend’ of jailed terrorist Subscribe free to our weekly newsletter for exclusive and original coverage from ITV News. Direct to your inbox every Friday morning. From Westminster to Washington DC - our political experts are across all the latest key talking points. Listen to the latest episode below...