• SIX weeks ago, and following a lengthy period of consulting the local community, I announced that I would be standing as a member of parliament for Holborn and St Pancras to challenge our new prime minister, Sir Keir Starmer.

It was the beginning of something incredible.

The campaign attracted a huge cohort of deeply committed volunteers, all of whom were dedicated to fighting the austerity and forever wars promised by our country’s two main parties – and by the urgent need to end the killing in Gaza and hold those responsible to account.

We had thousands of conversations on doorsteps and in meeting halls.

All of those emphasised the shortfalls of our politics at both a local and national level. The shocking quality of local housing stocks, the remoteness of the council, and the economic hardship caused by soaring rents was one of the most striking themes.

This rubbed shoulders with real horror and outrage that our political class has either been indifferent to, or actively supportive of, the killing of 15,000 children in Gaza through mass killings.

All of this was underpinned by a deep and abiding belief that our politicians have been untouchable and unaccountable, and ignore the concerns of their constituents.

Many in Holborn and St Pancras feel genuinely voiceless.

A big part of our campaign was to help ignored communities find their voice.

And that voice, now being increasingly found, will not be ignored.

The campaign has succeeded beyond our original expectations. From nowhere six weeks ago, I received over 7,300 votes, coming second in the constituency.

I cannot express how humbled and grateful I am that so many of my fellow residents put there trust in me and my campaign.

Starmer, despite becoming prime minister, has seen his vote slashed from 36,000 to 18,000 – halved!

Similar trends have been seen with other amazing independents, five of whom now sit in parliament.

Leanne Mohamad, a true future superstar, ran a grassroots campaign that came within 500 votes of beating Wes Streeting, one of Labour’s top dogs.

This is already having an impact. The Times has reported that our campaign in Holborn and St Pancras was central to decisions that have been taken by Starmer; like appointing a new attorney general who is correctly critical of Israel as an occupying power, and withdrawing the United Kingdom’s objections to the International Criminal Court’s proceedings against Israeli prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu.

This is just the start.

This campaign and its amazing volunteers are here to stay.

Soon, we will have exciting announcements about how we will turn this campaign into a long-term community project that will properly hold our politicians, both local and national, to account.

Watch this space!

ANDREW FEINSTEIN