Emma Dent Coad, the former Labour MP

A FORMER Labour MP who championed the rights of Grenfell survivors in west London is appearing on Green Party leaflets calling on residents to support Zack Polanski.

Emma Dent Coad, the former MP for Kensington — a seat she wrested from the Tories for Labour — said residents should be looking for somebody to stand up for them on housing policy.

Her intervention is part of Green campaign materials showing pictures of people who once supported Labour but are now backing the Greens.

“Holborn and St Pancras needs an MP who understands that the current housing model has failed those who need genuinely affordable homes, and who will support leaseholders battling an archaic system that disadvantages and silences them,” said Ms Dent Coad.

“Residents need an advocate who can focus on robust legislative change while helping those who are at the receiving end of those failures. “I was a housing activist for years before becoming a Labour councillor in 2006. My experiences helped me to be elected as MP for Kensington days before the Grenfell Tower fire.

“Now, as a journalist, I keep a close eye on how councils are treating tenants, and it is clear there are huge problems at Camden Council. Across the constituency numerous housing crises are evident, from poor construction standards, fire and building safety failures, and the lack of new housing provision that has left a shameful 8,500 households on the waiting list.”

Labour’s candidate Sagal Abdi-Wali was in charge of Camden’s housing department before becoming council leader four months ago.

It has been the subject of ombudsman warnings and is considered the worst-performing part of the council, although Ms Abdi-Wali has said she was turning performance around as the cabinet member responsible for improving things.

Ms Dent Coad quit Labour in 2023, although is not a member of the Greens.

“Managing a failing system is not enough,” she said. “I’ve known Zack Polanski for some years, and we have talked about his understanding of the housing crises.”

Kensington briefly went back into Tory hands, but Labour won in 2024 in the newly created Kensington and Bayswater seat.

Ms Abdi-Wali has been joined by a series of famous political faces during her campaign – including Sir Sadiq Khan, chancellor John Healey, Education Secretary Lucy Powell and even the new prime minister Andy Burnham — but none of them have offered the New Journal the chance to ask them questions during their time here.

The New Journal has a full list of candidates in Holborn and St Pancras on our website.