Politics

Latest odds given on Zack Polanski to be replaced as Green leader after by-election loss

Zack Polanski is odds-on with the bookies to be replaced as Green Party leader before the next general election, although he is backed to stay on until 2027.

Pressure has grown on the Green Party leader in recent days. First, there was controversy over a motion adopted by the party declaring that ‘Zionism is racism’, with Polanski choosing not to be at the party conference for the vote and initially remaining neutral on it.

This was followed this week by Polanski losing out to Labour in the Holborn and St Pancras by-election, although the Greens did significantly increase their vote share in the constituency compared to 2024.

The background of all of this has been the Greens seeing their support in the polls gradually fall as Andy Burnham seemingly brings left-wing voters back to Labour.

After his by-election defeat, Polanski has dismissed suggestions he could step down as Green Party leader, but the bookies reckon it’s on the cards.

READ NEXT: Labour now projected to win majority at general election after polling surge

Star Sports give odds of 8/11 for Polanski to be replaced as party leader before the next general election, with odds of 11/10 for him to still be leader.

However, it is not expected that he will be replaced before the end of the year, with odds of 1/7 for Polanski to remain in post by the end of 2026.

Zack Polanski to be Green Party Leader on 31st December 2026:

  • Yes 1/7
  • No 4/1

Zack Polanski to lead the Green Party Leader into the next General Election:

  • No 8/11
  • Yes 11/10

William Hill similarly back Polanski to still be leader by 2027, giving odds of 10/3 for him to be replaced this year.

Spokesperson to William Hill, Lee Phelps, said: “Zack Polanski may have lost the Holborn & St Pancras by-election, but our market suggests he has done enough to survive the immediate fallout. He is 10/3 to leave as Greens leader this year, with 2027 or later the clear favourite at 1/5.

“A vote share below 30% would have been much harder for him to defend. Around 33%, a gap of roughly 12 points to Labour and a sizeable increase in the Greens’ share gives Polanski a result he can point to, even if it falls short of the breakthrough he wanted.

In terms of who is backed to replace him, Ellie Chowns is the early front runner at 11/4, with the party’s newest MP Hannah Spencer on 3/1.

Next Green Party Leader:

  • Ellie Chowns 11/4
  • Hannah Spencer 3/1
  • Motrin Ali 7/2
  • Adrian Ramsey 5/1
  • Rachel Millward 6/1
  • Carla Denyer 7/1
Charlie Herbert

Charlie is content editor and writer at the London Economic. With a keen interest in politics, he has worked on both the 2019 and 2024 general elections, and joined TLE full time in January 2025. Since then, it's safe to say there's been plenty to keep him busy on both sides of the Atlantic.

Published by