Mr Polanski said he ‘loves’ the community and ‘knows it well’

Zack Polanski has announced he will stand in a crunch London by-election after Sir Keir Starmer quit as an MP.

The Green Party leader said he ‘loves’ the community in Holborn and St Pancras and ‘knows it well’ after former prime minister Sir Keir announced his resignation as MP after 11 years on Tuesday (September 1). The step down for Sir Keir, who said he would turn his focus to ‘international affairs’, has triggered a by-election in the constituency.

Mr Polanski told the Camden New Journal the constituency ‘has everything that’s the best of our country and so much potential’. He said: “I have lived and worked in this community over many years, I know it well and I love it.

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“It represents so many of the things that make London so special. I am so excited by the prospect of representing this place in Parliament.” He added: “For too long now it’s been held back by governments who have failed to make the changes to improve people’s lives.

“We know that the Greens can win here, and by electing me, voters will have someone who will always fight their corner – never scared of big donors or the party whip. Too often Labour has stood up for corporations and big money. I will stand up for people struggling to pay their bills.”

Mr Polanski has been the leader of the Green Party since September 2025. He has also been a member of the London Assembly since May 2021.

Sir Keir announced he would quit as an MP on Tuesday, as Parliament returned from its summer recess, despite having previously insisted he would stay on as a backbencher until the next general election. He said: “It has been a huge honour and privilege to represent the best constituency in the country and to have taken over from Frank Dobson, who was such a great constituency MP and a member of the last Labour government.

“I will now focus on other things and that will be international affairs including defence, security, trade and technology in a fast-changing world. I will also continue, as I have done for a long time now with others, work on combating violence against women and girls; that is an issue that matters to me hugely.

“It’s work I started before I became an MP and it’s work I’m keen to continue after I’m an MP. So international affairs on the one hand, and continuing my work on violence against women and girls on the other.”

This is the moment a van is driven the wrong way down a dual carriageway during a high-speed 15-mile police chase. 

Footage appears to show a white Citroën repeatedly swerving between lanes on the A20 in Kent on Sunday, as dozens of drivers attempt to avoid a head-on crash. 

The 53-second clip, which was filmed by a passenger in a car on the other side of the road, shows a van travelling along the eastbound carriageway with its hazard lights flashing.

The Citroën allegedly exited the A20 by driving the wrong way up a slip road before police rammed it off the road in Bromley, south-east London, and arrested the driver.

Photos show the vehicle, which had allegedly been stolen, suspended in the air surrounded by shards of glass. 

The alleged pursuit took place little more than a week after a separate incident in which two officers were killed when a car, which had been travelling the wrong way along the A66, smashed into their marked police vehicle, near Middlesbrough. 

PC Matthew Blades, aged 37, and PC Tom Clough, aged 38, and five members of the public travelling in the Volkswagen Passat were pronounced dead at the scene. 

A van is seen suspended in the air surrounded by shards of glass after a police chase ended in a crash on the A20

The 53-second clip, which was filmed by a passenger in a car on the other side of the road, shows the van travelling along the eastbound carriageway with its hazard lights flashing

At least eight police vehicles attended the scene following the crash in Bromley 

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That crash also came just days after five young men were killed and an innocent family injured in a head-on collision on the M9 in Co Kildare, Ireland. 

Kent Police said a man had allegedly smashed a window and stolen the Citroën van from a property in Swanscombe at around 2.55pm on Sunday.

The force said the owner was known to the suspect.   

Officers located a van several hours later in Swanley, where it allegedly failed to stop and travelled into London, where the Met Police took over the pursuit. 

Met Police officers detained the driver after making tactical contact – a manoeuvre used to bring a fleeing vehicle to a controlled stop – on Mottingham Road in Bromley.

A Met Police officer sustained an injury to his hand and was taken to hospital before being discharged. No other serious injuries were reported. 

The force confirmed that a van was driving along the wrong side of the A20 for a ‘short period of time’.

One person who saw the scene of the crash told The News Shopper: ‘It sounded like an air raid was about to kick off.

‘Never seen so many police cars before.’

PC Matthew Blades, a father of two, was killed in a separate incident when his police vehicle was struck head-on by a Volkswagen Passat travelling the wrong way down the A66 

Police officers at the scene of a fatal crash involving a police car and a Volkswagen Passat on the A66 in South Bank, near Middlesbrough on August 22

PC Tom Clough also died in the crash in Middlesbrough, which occurred around ten seconds after a police pursuit of the Volkswagen was called off

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At least eight police vehicles attended the scene following the smash.

Barney McGinley, 33, has been charged with causing serious injury by driving a vehicle dangerously, dangerous driving, driving whilst disqualified and no insurance. 

He appeared before Croydon Magistrates’ Court on Tuesday where he was remanded in custody. 

A spokesman for Kent Police said in an updated statement: ‘Kent Police was called at 2.55pm on Sunday to a report that a man had smashed a window and taken a van that did not belong to him from an address in Swanscombe. 

‘The owner of the property was known to him. At around 6.45pm Kent Police officers located the van in the London Road area of Swanley. 

‘It did not stop and travelled into London, where Metropolitan Police officers assisted in the detention of the driver after making tactical contact with the vehicle in Mottingham Road, Bromley. 

‘One Metropolitan Police officer suffered an injury to his hand during the incident and no other serious injuries were reported.’

The Daily Mail has contacted Kent Police and the Met Police for further comment.  

Stars of The Gentlemen have dismissed claims Meghan Markle could join the cast, with Vinnie Jones insisting the show already boasts ‘a lot of pretty women‘.

The Duchess of Sussex has not given up hope of appearing in Guy Ritchie‘s crime drama now she is back living in the UK, a source told the Daily Mail.

But members of the current cast absolutely ruled it out on the red carpet at the London premiere of the second season last night.

In his typically direct style, Vinnie Jones said: ‘I think it’s hot air’, adding: ‘We’ve got a lot of pretty women in this series, so I’m not sure there’s room for any more.’ 

Theo James, who plays drug baron Eddie Horniman, the 13th Duke of Halstead, said: ‘I think it’s a spurious rumour. She’d fit in well because she’s actually from the Royal Family, but I think the practicalities of that are impossible.’

He also joked that ‘Prince Harry is playing one of my love interests’.

Fellow Londoner Ray Winstone added: ‘It’s the first I’ve heard of it’ but added that she would be a ‘better looking’ addition than him.

Hugh Bonneville was equally dismissive, describing it as ‘a genius bit of marketing by the person who dreamt up that idea.’ While new star Maya Jama said: ‘I’d be the last person to know.’

Guy Ritchie declined to give any interviews on the red carpet on Wednesday where he could have quashed rumours that Meghan had personally held preliminary talks with him over a possible role in the gangster hit’s third series. 

Vinnie Jones said: ‘I think it’s hot air’, before adding: ‘We’ve got a lot of pretty women in this series, so I’m not sure there’s room for any more.’

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Guy Ritchie, pictured with son Rocky and wife Jacqui Ainsley last night, declined to comment

Meghan is said to be keen to return to acting, both on screen and even on stage

Royal author Tina Brown claimed that Meghan’s offer of an acting job was withdrawn within 24 hours of the Sussexes returning to the UK because the ‘backlash was so intense it became untenable’.   

Industry experts even claimed talk of Meghan being linked with a role in the show could have been leaked as a cynical PR tactic to create a buzz around her upcoming arrival in the UK. 

But a source told the Daily Mail there are still rumours in the TV world that there is ‘still the possibility of a role’ for Meghan, who is said to be keen to return to acting.

‘I gather talks are still ongoing despite claims that it’s all off. It was a factor for her in moving back to the UK’, they said.

It has been claimed that she may have spoken directly with Guy Ritchie. 

Another source in Theatreland said there were deafening rumours that the former Suits actress wants to land a serious stage role in London’s West End.

But Mark Borkowski, one of the UK’s leading PR gurus, said he felt ‘the timing of this has an ulterior motive to do what it’s doing, to generate as much attention as possible without saying anything at all’.

Addressing claims that the leak was deliberate from the Sussex side, he told the Daily Mail: ‘It’s totally plausible because there’s not been a single quote from the production, so they’re enjoying all the publicity, it’s good for them.’

Meghan played lawyer Rachel Zane for seven seasons of the US legal drama Suits

The star-studded cast were out in force for the premiere of season two at the Guildhall Art Gallery in London last night.

Maya Jama, 32, wore a daringly cut leather gown, custom made by R&M leathers and styled by Rhea Francois, as she arrived on the red carpet for her first ever premiere as an actress.

The Love Island host makes her acting debut as Aisha, the wife of a criminal associate of Theo James‘s character, Eddie Horniman. 

Meanwhile, Kaya Scodelario, 34, channelled her impeccably styled character Susie as she dazzled in diamonds while dressed in a custom Paolo Sebastian corset gown.

Scodelario returns for season two as the daughter of a mobster named Bobby Glass, played by Ray Winstone, who has a cannabis empire on English country estates.

And life imitated art as James channelled his duke-turned-crime-boss character Eddie, dressed to the nines in a bespoke suit.

Hugh Bonneville appeared alongside his partner Heidi Kadlecova after joining the cast as the colourful Lord Hawthorne. 

Maya Jama , 32, injected a sprinkle of gangster glamour in a daringly cut leather gown to the premiere of Guy Ritchie’s The Gentlemen season two tonight

Meanwhile Kaya Scodelario, 34, channeled her impeccably styled character Susie as she dazzled in diamonds

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And life imitated art as Theo James channelled his duke turned crime boss character Eddie Horniman, dressed to the nines in a bespoke suit

Joely Richardson, who plays Lady Sabrina, looked criminally stylish as she oozed glamour in a gold chained gown

Hollywood actress Joely Richardson, who plays Lady Sabrina, oozed glamour in a dramatic gold-chained gown. 

Ritchie, who has directed the crime drama, was joined at the premiere by his son Rocco, 26, whom he shares with ex wife Madonna, and his second wife Jacqui Ainsley, 44. 

The new series of the crime comedy-drama, which releases today on Netflix, also sees Vinnie Jones and Daniel Ings reprise their roles as stoic gamekeeper Geoffrey Seacombe and the not-so-clever brother Freddy Horniman respectively.

Vinnie leant into the countryside chic in a tweed suit, putting on an animated display on the carpet.

By JAMES TAPSFIELD, UK POLITICAL EDITOR

Published: 09:03 BST, 3 September 2026 | Updated: 09:09 BST, 3 September 2026

Zack Polanski has confirmed he does want to be the Green candidate in the by-election for Keir Starmer‘s old seat.

The party leader said he was ‘excited’ by the prospect of representing Holborn & St Pancras in the Commons as he ‘loves’ the community.

The announcement tees up a titanic battle with Labour, which is desperate to hold on to the seat as evidence of Andy Burnham‘s appeal to voters. 

However, there are rumours of a revolt among local Greens who are pushing to endorse a British Palestinian or pro-Gaza independent.  

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Zack Polanski has dropped a strong hint that he will stand in the Holborn & St Pancras contest, which the Greens believe they have a good chance of winning

Speaking to the Camden New Journal, Mr Polanski said: ‘I have lived and worked in this community over many years, I know it well and I love it.

‘It represents so many of the things that make London so special. I am so excited by the prospect of representing this place in Parliament.’

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Sir Keir conducted yet another U-turn to announce his immediate departure from the Commons on Tuesday, despite pledging to see out the rest of the Parliament. 

The move is a headache for Mr Burnham, presenting an early test of the poll ‘bounce’ the party has been enjoying.   

Labour has held the inner London constituency continuously since it was created in 1983, winning at least 40 per cent of the vote at every election.

Sir Keir had a majority of 11,000 in 2024, but that was significantly down from the 27,763 margin he secured in 2019. He came under heavy fire over his approach to Palestine during the campaign.

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The constituency is within the local authority of Camden, where local elections took place earlier this year in May.

Labour retained control of the council, but won only 30 of the 55 seats up for grabs – down from 47 in 2022.

Sir Keir had an 11,000 majority in 2024, but that was significantly down from the 27,763 margin he secured in 2019

The Greens won 11 council seats, seven of which were in the part of the borough covered by the constituency of Holborn & St Pancras. The party has since lost one of these seats to Labour in a by-election.

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The prospects for the Greens could be bolstered as independent candidate Andrew Feinstein, who racked up 18.9 per cent of votes in 2024, looks unlikely to stand. 

Labour is hoping to have a candidate in place by next Wednesday, with the contest potentially taking place as soon as October 1 or 8.

New Labour big beast David Miliband had been touted for a comeback, but appears to have ruled the prospect out. 

Labour squabbling has erupted as the party machines gear up for battle.

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Tulip Siddiq, a close ally of the former PM and MP for a neighbouring constituency, complained about candidates from outside the area trying to parachute in.

Ms Siddiq posted on X: ‘If I didn’t see you campaigning even once during the local elections in Camden, it’s probably best you don’t message me asking for help to run in Holborn and St Pancras,’ she wrote.

Emergency services were called to the road near Bowburn at around 2.45pm on Saturday, August 29, after a passenger became unwell in a car on the hard shoulder.

Police said the driver pulled onto the hard shoulder and paramedics were called for the passenger after he suffered a medical episode.

Paramedics performed CPR at the roadside, but the man, in his 60s, was pronounced dead at the scene.

National Highways North East closed the southbound carriageway between Junctions 61 and 60 after the medical emergency.

National Highways North East said delays had reached 15 minutes, with two miles of congestion on the approach.

A spokesperson for Durham Constabulary said: “At approximately 2:45pm on Saturday, August 29 emergency services were alerted to the A1(M) southbound close to Junction 61.

“A passenger in a car, which had pulled onto the hard shoulder, had suffered a medical episode.

“Paramedics carried out CPR at the roadside but, sadly the patient, a man in his 60s, was pronounced dead at the scene.”

A North East Ambulance Service spokesperson said: “We were called to an incident on the A1 near Coxhoe in County Durham at 2.37pm on Saturday, August 29.

“We dispatched two ambulance crews and one specialist paramedic to the incident.”

In a post on X, National Highways said: “A1M southbound between J61 and J60 in County Durham is closed due to a medical emergency.

“The ambulance service are on scene.

“There are delays of 15 minutes and two miles of congestion on the approach.”

Lawrence Shankland scored twice as Rangers beat Falkirk 2-1 to ease the pressure on the club and manager Derek McInnes

Derek McInnes reckons Lawrence Shankland delivered a “proper captain’s performance” after netting twice in Rangers’ 2-1 victory away to Falkirk.

The Scotland international has endured a challenging period at his childhood club following his summer switch from Hearts.

Yet, having converted from 12 yards in Sunday’s 1-0 triumph against Aberdeen at Pittodrie, he put the Light Blues in front with an excellent seventh-minute effort.

Despite Gers full-back Kosta Nedeljkovic diverting an Ethan Ross cross into his own goal shortly before half-time, Shankland bent home the decisive strike in the 79th minute with his characteristic finish.

McInnes said: “I’m very pleased for Lawrence Shankland. I thought his second goal was particularly good, considering he missed the chance that he would be kicking himself with.

“But, like all good strikers, the experience of Lawrence, the calmness of Lawrence, the quality comes up with a big moment.

“His first goal was a fantastic strike. I was screaming to leave it for Gass (Djeidi Gassama), but he sticks it in the back of the net.

“I’m delighted for him because it’s not been, like for all of us, the easiest of starts.

“Obviously Lawrence would feel the weight of that a lot more than some others, I think, just because of his background and how eager he is. A proper captain’s performance out there tonight.

“I’m pleased that we’ve won the game, and I was pleased with certain aspects of our attacking play, but disappointed that we’ve not been able to enjoy the game a bit more in terms of giving Falkirk a lot of encouragement at times.”

Prior to kick-off, midfielder Thelo Aasgaard departed the squad’s hotel to finalise a temporary transfer to Belgian outfit Anderlecht, while Rangers turned down a loan approach from Turkish club Besiktas for Nicolas Raskin. McInnes remains optimistic that the Belgian midfielder will stay at Ibrox.

He commented: “Yeah, I think he will. I can’t say when it’s certain; they’re not in control of that.

“Obviously Nico’s had an opportunity to go today, and it wasn’t something he wanted or the club, I believe, entertained. It was hardly the ideal preparation.

“I’ve been keen to utilise Nico, but there’s been a lot going on for him.

“He’s been training with us every day, and I do think at times the team needs a bit more experience.

“Even coming through from Ibrox at lunchtime today, at the hotel, I had Thelo behind me and Nico three rows behind me and I didn’t know who was coming and who was going. It’s far from ideal.

“This is the difficulty when you’re playing games while the window’s still open.”

Meanwhile, Falkirk manager John McGlynn was left frustrated by squandered opportunities following the interval.

He remarked: “I think we’ve got two great opportunities in the second half that we could have put ourselves 2 or 3-1 up.

“If you give Lawrence any kind of space in the box, he’s going to punish you. And he’s got a wee habit of doing it against us.

“I thought for 30 minutes of the second half, we were the better team.

“We probably deserved something, but we don’t want to be this team that can play nice football and be attractive and play good games.

“We need to start turning that into wins.”

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Jeremy Clarkson, James May and Richard Hammond have been replaced as hosts of The Grand Tour

New The Grand Tour presenter Francis Bourgeois has said the support of the show’s former hosts Jeremy Clarkson, James May and Richard Hammond has been “an absolute superpower”.

The 26-year-old will present the new series of the Prime Video motoring show alongside social media stars Thomas Holland and James Englesman.

Former Top Gear hosts Clarkson, Hammond, and May fronted the programme from 2016 to 2024 before they decided to leave. So when the streamer decided to bring it back this September, they replaced the hosts.

Speaking at the London premiere of the forthcoming series, Bourgeois, who is known for his trainspotting videos on social media, told the Press Association about his predecessors’ support: “They’ve been so warm and open. It’s that transition point where they know it’s going into nice, right hands, to have them, and to have their blessing is an absolute superpower.”

But his co-star Holland was quick to point out the new hosting team would avoid taking on similar roles to Clarkson, Hammond and May.

He added: “I mean there’s similarities between any of us and any other people right? Especially in the car world. You’re going to align with somebody on some things and disagree with them on others, that’s just kind of the nature of car enthusiasm right?”

Englesman added: “We’ve been presenting in our own worlds separately for so long, it’s more of a case of how we gel together rather than falling into the grooves of the old guys.”

The motoring journalist, who is from Canada, is best known for co-presenting YouTube channel Throttle House, with fellow Canadian Holland. Bourgeois, whose real name is Luke Nicolson, added that the trio’s relationship had built up a year before filming began, with Englesman calling Bourgeois “the missing ingredient”.

Clarkson, Hammond and May will make guest appearances during the forthcoming season, and the trio were there to support the new hosts at the premiere of the new series on Wednesday (September 2) evening.

The new series of The Grand Tour launches on Prime Video on September 4

Two fire crews were on the scene in Appleton le Street, near Malton, shortly after 11.30pm on Wednesday (September 2).

North Yorkshire Fire and Rescue Service said the fire was out when its crews arrived but there was “minor smoke logging the ground floor”.

“Crews naturally ventilated the property by opening doors and windows,” a service spokesperson said.

They added that “advice was given to the occupier”.

Celtic manager Martin O’Neill heaped praise on Camilo Duran after the Colombian scored a spectacular 20-yard strike to help the Hoops to a commanding 3-0 victory over Aberdeen.

Celtic boss Martin O’Neill praised Camilo Duran’s exceptional talent following the Colombian’s contribution to the Hoops’ commanding 3-0 victory against Aberdeen.

The striker broke the deadlock unexpectedly in the 14th minute with yet another stunning goal since his arrival from Qarabag.

Duran appeared to have few options when he received Benjamin Nygren’s pass, yet he unleashed a thunderous 20-yard effort that crashed in off the crossbar with minimal backlift.

The forward also kept Marius Muller busy with four first-half stops and blazed over from a bouncing ball following Yang’s delivery that had thrown the Dons’ backline into disarray.

O’Neill said, “We played very well with some really good goals,” and “Camilo’s a star player.”

He added, “Camilo set the tone for us, I think perhaps maybe all season he’s done that. He’s a really class player.”

The manager continued, “He scored a great goal and obviously until you get that goal you just have to be on your guard as much as anything else.”

Nygren extended Celtic’s advantage before Duran turned provider for Yang Hyun-jun to net a third during first-half injury time, moments after Gavin Molloy had struck the woodwork at the opposite end.

O’Neill reflected, “I thought probably the big moment of the game was them hitting the bar with the header from the corner kick,”.

He concluded, “It seemed pretty comfortable at the end and we played some really good stuff as well too, so I’m delighted with that.”

Aberdeen boss Stephen Robinson made four substitutions at the interval after expressing frustration with his team’s lack of conviction. “We got beat by a ruthless side,” Robinson said.

“We made mistakes and got punished for them.

“We didn’t have the belief that we’ve shown in training, in the second half. We didn’t have that belief in the first half to play. If you don’t get ownership of the game, it’s difficult to get out.

“So, at 2–0, we hit the crossbar, and the fine lines in football, they go up the other end, we make a mistake, effectively the game’s over.

“To an extent, I get a response and they show that they can pass the ball under pressure and they can play, and they are good players. And that’s a positive I have to take from it.

“Our season won’t be defined by getting beat by Celtic. Am I disappointed? Of course I am. I know the team are better than what they’ve showed.

“But it’s up to me, it’s my fault that they haven’t got the belief to do what they did in the second half and be brave. It’s too late at 3–0 down, and I take full responsibility.”

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