Zack Polanski Makes Last-Ditch Plea To Voters As Polls Open In Crunch By-Election

Zack Polanski has made a last-ditch plea to voters as polls open in a crunch by-election.

The Green Party leader sent a letter to every household in Holborn and St Pancras on the eve of polling day urging them to “lend” him their vote.

Polanski is going head-to-head with Labour’s Sagal Abdi-Wali in the battle to succeed Keir Starmer as MP for the seat, which Labour has held since it was formed in 1983.

In his letter, seen by HuffPost UK, Polanski insists the Greens have “the momentum to win”. 

He also refers to his Jewish heritage, amid fierce criticism of the party for passing a party conference motion declaring that “Zionism is racism”.

Polanski has come under fire for skipping the vote in order to campaign in the by-election.

His letter says: “So many of you have said you are voting Green for the first time in your life. I can’t thank you enough if you are lending me your vote in this unique by-election.

“This exact same warmth is what I felt when I moved to Camden 20 years ago.

“As a Jewish man whose family have had to move around for generations, it was this warm Camden spirit that made me fall deeply in love with our community.”

Polanski goes on to say: “Your vote is powerful. We have the momentum to win.

“Please lend me your vote on Thursday to give Camden a voice and keep the government in check.”

In her own eve-of-polling day message, Abdi-Wali – who came to the UK as a child refugee – said: “Camden gave me, and my family, a place to call home when we needed it most. I have spent the last 20 years working for our community, as a charity volunteer and as a councillor.

“I am standing in this election to repay the hope that Camden gave me.

“I’m pledging to take on Thames Water and its appalling service, work with prime minister Andy Burnham to tackle rough sleeping in our borough, and help create more earning and learning opportunities for young people.

“That hope can only become a reality if people across Camden vote for it. I will be your local champion, working with our Labour government to deliver on what’s important to you. I know there is lots to do, but I’m determined to deliver for you.”

Burnham said: “Hope can win. But only if you vote for it. I have no doubt that Sagal Abdi-Wali will make a brilliant local MP for Holborn and St. Pancras.”

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