GREEN Party leader Zack Polanski accused Labour today of “running scared,” following reports that Prime Minister Andy Burnham will delay announcing his decision on drilling in the Jackdaw gas field until after the Holborn and St Pancras by-election.

Mr Polanski, who was announced today as his party’s candidate in the election on October 8, said that Labour had “started the campaign with an act of dishonesty and betrayal.”

He argued: “They are clearly going to allow new drilling in the North Sea but want to keep it under wraps during a byelection where they know the public want tougher action on climate, not backsliding.

“Labour talks about change, but this is change for the worse. We have a climate crisis, but Labour is taking the side of fossil fuel corporations….”

Green MP Hannah Spencer said that members of Camden Green Party had voted “overwhelmingly for Mr Polanski,” rather than local councillor Hamza Chowdury, to go up against Labour’s Sagal Abdi-Wali.

The by-election will be an early test of Mr Burnham’s popularity and Labour’s ability to claw back left-wing support from the Greens.

Ms Abdi-Wali arrived in Britain as a child refugee from Somalia in the 1990s and is now the leader of Camden council.

Mr Polanski said today that the Greens “might be the underdog in this election, but we have the momentum and we can win.”

He said he had made Camden his home when he first moved to London 20 years ago, adding he had “lived and worked across Holborn and St Pancras for many of the years since.”

Now a member of the London Assembly, Mr Polanski: said: “I love this place, but I also know times are tough here in Holborn and St Pancras. 

“My story of constantly moving around flats is such a common story for Londoners and I know so many people are struggling right now.”

He argued that voting Green “sends a clear signal” to the council and government that “we demand better for our communities.” 

Mr Polanski added that he was “confident but not complacent” about his chances.

The Holborn and St Pancras seat became vacant when former prime minister Sir Keir announced he was standing down as an MP.

At the 2024 general election, he held the seat with 48.9 per cent of the vote, ahead of independent candidate Andrew Feinstein in second place with 18.9 per cent and the Greens in third with 10.4 per cent. 

Mr Feinstein is not standing in the by-election and is backing Mr Polanski.