Polanski will be under pressure to indicate where his party can win in the next electionpublished at 04:21 BST
Jack Fenwick
Political correspondent for the Holborn and St Pancras by-elections
This was always going to be a tall order for the Green Party, but Zack Polanski will be disappointed with the outcome nonetheless.
A few months ago, when his party was leading the polls and Labor had a very unpopular Prime Minister, he may have had a better chance.
But the Greens have fallen more recently – and this trend has continued since Andy Burnham became Prime Minister.
The Greens say this is proof they are catching up with Labour. But some of those who were already quietly asking Polanski questions may now become more vocal.
He will be under pressure to indicate where, if not here, the party hopes to gain seats in the next election.
For Labor, the vote share has actually declined and questions remain over whether the party is as popular as it was in the general election two years ago.
But if Andy Burnham’s victory in the Makerfield by-election was proof that he could beat the Reforms, to the right of Labour, those around the Prime Minister will absolutely say it’s proof that they can beat the Greens, to the left of Labour, too.
Gn world
