Labour Faces Green Threat in Hackney 2026

Key Points

• The Green Party, led by Zack Polanski, is targeting Hackney Council, currently dominated by Labour with 44 councillors, in the upcoming May 7 local elections.
• Labour has controlled Hackney Council for all but seven years since 1965, making it one of the party’s safest strongholds in London.
• Greens currently hold just three elected members on the council but are not the largest opposition group.
• Green vote surged in the 2022 elections in areas like Stoke Newington, Dalston, and Hackney Wick.
• Greens won the Stoke Newington ward seat from Labour in a 2024 by-election.
• In the last General Election, Greens significantly increased their vote share in Hackney South and Shoreditch, with their candidate receiving nearly 10,000 votes.
• Zack Polanski is considering standing as the borough’s next MP amid rising Green support.
• This challenge comes amid Labour’s national struggles: less than two years after Prime Minister Keir Starmer’s landslide victory, he faces calls to resign and poor polling ahead of May 7 elections.
• Labour’s government woes are speculated to erode support even in its London heartlands, turning attention to strongholds like Hackney.

Hackney (East London Times) February 19, 2026 – The Green Party has boldly declared its intention to unseat Labour from Hackney Council, one of the party’s most secure bastions in London, as local elections approach on May 7. With Labour holding 44 of the council seats and dominating the borough for nearly six decades, Green leader Zack Polanski’s campaign rhetoric signals a potential seismic shift fuelled by national Labour discontent.​

Labour’s grip on Hackney, unbroken except for seven years since 1965, now faces scrutiny amid Prime Minister Keir Starmer’s plummeting fortunes. Less than two years post-landslide general election win, Starmer contends with resignation demands and dismal polls, raising fears that even heartland councils like Hackney could slip away.​

Is the Green Party’s Ambition Realistic in Hackney?

Zack Polanski, Green Party leader, has explicitly voiced his party’s aim to seize control of Hackney Council. As reported in the original coverage by MyLondon journalists, Polanski declared the party’s bullish intent amid a surge in support, stating ambitions to take one London borough outright. Despite Greens holding only three councillors—trailing larger opposition groups—their recent gains substantiate the threat.​

In the 2022 local elections, Green votes rocketed in key wards including Stoke Newington, Dalston, and Hackney Wick, per MyLondon’s detailed analysis. This momentum peaked with a stunning by-election victory in Stoke Newington in 2024, where Greens swiped the seat directly from Labour, underscoring vulnerabilities in Labour’s urban base.​

The last General Election amplified this trend: in Hackney South and Shoreditch, the Green candidate amassed close to 10,000 votes, markedly boosting their share. Polanski is now contemplating a parliamentary run for the borough’s next MP, weighing personal ambitions alongside council conquest.

Why Is Labour Vulnerable in Its Safest Seats?

Labour’s national turmoil directly imperils local fortresses like Hackney. Prime Minister Keir Starmer faces mounting resignation calls, as noted in linked MyLondon reporting on his refusal to step down amid party woes. With elections looming on May 7, speculation mounts that government missteps have infected even London heartlands.​

Hackney Council remains Labour’s by far the largest group, with 44 councillors. Yet Greens’ opportunistic positioning exploits anti-Labour sentiment. Polanski’s declaration, covered extensively by MyLondon, frames this as more than bluster:

“The Green Party is bullish about seizing the Labour-run Hackney Council,”

highlighting strategic focus.​

Broader context reveals Labour’s dominance since 1965, interrupted only seven years, per historical council records referenced in the story. Current polling languishes, tying local risks to Westminster failures.​

What Recent Gains Bolster Green Hopes?

Greens’ trajectory in Hackney builds on electoral breakthroughs. The 2022 elections saw vote surges in Stoke Newington, Dalston, and Hackney Wick, transforming marginal gains into seat wins. As detailed by MyLondon reporters, these areas signal shifting voter priorities towards Green platforms.​

The 2024 Stoke Newington by-election proved pivotal: Greens wrested the ward from Labour, a direct scalp in Labour territory. This upset, amid stable national trends, validates Polanski’s council takeover bid.​

General Election results in Hackney South and Shoreditch further embolden Greens, with nearly 10,000 votes marking substantial growth. Polanski’s potential MP candidacy, as speculated in the piece, could dual-track borough dominance.​

Could a Rival Pact Trigger Shockwaves?

The story hints at a “rival pact” unsettling Hackney’s politics, though specifics remain campaign chatter. Green ambitions, absent formal alliances named, pivot on anti-Labour consolidation. MyLondon’s headline—”The rival pact that could send shockwaves”—posits informal opposition coordination amplifying Green’s surge.​

No explicit pact partners are detailed beyond Green’s standalone push, but context implies tactical voting against Labour. With Greens not the primary opposition, any cross-party entente could fracture Labour’s supermajority.​

Polanski’s strategy eyes total control, per his statements, potentially reshaping East London governance.​

How Does National Labour Woe Spill into Local Races?

Keir Starmer’s crisis, less than two years post-victory, underscores timing. MyLondon links to coverage of Starmer rejecting resignation calls, tying national polls to local peril.

“Labour’s woes in government have fuelled speculation that the party is no longer safe in its London heartlands,”

the article states directly.​

Eyes now fix on strongholds, with Hackney emblematic. Labour’s 44-seat hold faces erosion from Green insurgency.​

What Are the Historical Odds for Labour in Hackney?

Since 1965, Labour has ruled Hackney Council bar seven years, cementing safe-seat status. This longevity, chronicled by MyLondon, heightens upset potential.​

Greens’ three seats belie influence, rooted in 2022 surges and 2024 by-election win.​

Will Zack Polanski Lead the Charge?

Polanski emerges central, declaring Hackney takeover aims. His parliamentary deliberations add intrigue: “Polanski is now weighing up whether he should make a play to be the borough’s next MP.”​

As Green leader, his visibility drives momentum from local to national ambitions.

Implications for London Local Elections?

May 7 polls test Labour resilience amid Starmer’s slump. Hackney’s fate could presage wider losses.​

Green success here might inspire copycat challenges elsewhere, per the shockwaves narrative.

Broader Context: Greens in Hackney Wards?

Stoke Newington’s 2024 flip exemplifies ward-level threats. Dalston and Hackney Wick surges signal broader appeal.​

Hackney South and Shoreditch’s 10,000 Green votes at general election reinforce viability.