Andy Burnham makes surprise London by-election visit as Labour ramps up campaign against Zack Polanski's Green threat

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Andy Burnham makes surprise London by-election visit as Labour ramps up campaign against Zack Polanski’s Green threatPrime Minister meets Labour’s candidate for Holborn and St Pancras Sagal Abdi-Wali ahead of major weekend of campaigning

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Nicholas Cecil, Chief Reporter @nicholascecil|Luke Reevey1 minute ago

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Andy Burnham made a surprise visit to the Holborn and St Pancras constituency as Labour was stepping up its campaign for a fierce by-election battle against Zack Polanski and his Green Party.

The Prime Minister met Camden council leader Sagal Abdi-Wali after she was selected as Labour’s candidate for the crunch contest.

“I was so pleased for you,” Mr Burnham told Ms Abdi-Wali.

“I think you’ve been amazing what you’ve achieved with Camden Council, but we want you in Parliament.”

Camden Council leader Sagal Abdi-Wali, Labour’s candidate for the Holborn and St Pancras by-election, with Andy BurnhamNo10

Ms Abdi-Wali, who has led Camden Council since May this year, told how Labour activists were hitting the streets ahead of polling day on October 8, with the Greens also already out mass campaigning.

“It’s been an amazing day to be able to just get out there and hit the ground running,” she said.

“We had the Prime Minister come down to Holborn and St Pancras, and it was amazing to meet him.

“We’ve been able to leaflet all of our Tube stations, and it’s amazing the response we’ve had.

“We’ve been walking around the entire constituency, being stopped by local people, telling me that they’re going to support us and wanting us to win and make sure that we keep this seat Labour.”

The Greens were on Friday unveiling their candidate to challenge Labour in the seat vacated by Sir Keir Starmer quitting Parliament.

Mr Polanski was widely expected to be chosen, having declared his plan to fight the contest.

However, he was competing against local councillor Hamza Chowdhury for the Green nomination.

Green Party leader Zack Polanski wants to become a London MPPA Wire

The by-election will provide an early test of Mr Burnham’s popularity with the public.

After his low-key visit to north London on Thursday, it was not yet clear how prominent a role he will play in Labour’s by-election campaign.

Prime Ministers tend to stay away from many by-elections as the party in Government often loses these contests.

Mr Burnham has also faced accusations that he is “anti-London” which he strongly denies, insisting he “loves” the capital.

The former Mayor of Greater Manchester has even suggested that pubs in the capital are better than some in the North..

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