{
  "id": 12762588,
  "title": "Polanski’s final pitch in Holborn by-election: I’ll keep Burnham honest",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/08/polanskis-final-pitch-in-holborn-by-election-ill-keep-burnham-honest",
  "topic": "world",
  "section": "World",
  "published": "2026-10-08T02:00:00.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "Politico EU",
    "slug": "politico-eu",
    "url": "https://www.politico.eu/article/zack-polanski-greens-final-pitch-in-holborn-by-election-ill-keep-labour-andy-burnham-honest/"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "Holborn and St. Pancras by-election sees Green Party leader Zack Polanski pitch himself as a way to keep Labour Prime Minister Andy Burnham honest. Polanski's campaign in the seat, held by Labour since 1983, has focused on the idea that a Green victory would pressure Burnham to listen to the Greens instead of right-wing figures like Nigel Farage or Trump. The party has spent nearly £5,000 on Meta ads promising a Green win would \"keep the government in check,\" alongside £7,000 worth of graphics showcasing the party's influence over Burnham's government. Labour candidate Sagal Abdi-Wali, however, has spent more than £21,000 on Meta ads, emphasizing her local roots and experience as a councillor. Meanwhile, far-right party Restore Britain has spent £30,000 on Meta ads, positioning itself as a \"patriotic alternative\" to Reform UK and promising to remove \"millions of foreign nationals\" and \"reverse the Islamification of London.\"",
  "summary": "Zack Polanski leverages ex-Labour voters — and his barber — in his bid to snatch a seat from the governing party in Thursday’s by-election.",
  "key_points": [
    "Zack Polanski campaigns on keeping Burnham honest in Green Party bid.",
    "Green Party spent £5,000 on Meta ads, promising government check.",
    "Labour candidate Sagal Abdi-Wali spent £21,000 on Meta ads."
  ],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 1,
    "also_reported_by": []
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}