ZACK POLANSKI said yesterday that he was “proud” to be facing a rival Green to become his party’s candidate in the by-election triggered by Keir Starmer’s exit from Parliament.

The party leader is being challenged by Camden councillor Hamza Chowdhury, who has put himself forward for the Green nomination.

Mr Chowdhury said the Holborn and St Pancras constituency did not need “another MP who arrives during an election campaign” then “disappears once the votes are counted.”

Asked if he was disappointed to be facing a rival, Mr Polanski said: “I’m really proud that I lead a party that has genuine democratic selections, and I think that’s alien to almost any of the other parties.”

Mr Polanski is nevertheless regarded as certain to secure the Green nomination, and will then face a tough fight to wrest the seat from Labour in an area where the party’s support has held up better than in many other parts of London.