Story perspectives

Green Party Candidate Polanski Promises 3-Year Emergency Rent Freeze

By Drooid · Oct 4, 2026, 4:55 PM UTC · How we work

Summary

Story summary

Zack Polanski, Green Party leader, is standing in the Holborn and St Pancras by-election to replace Keir Starmer.
Polanski says the vote tests progressive policies like cost-of-living relief, Thames Water nationalisation and ending Gaza’s genocide.
Senior Greens warned a Zionism-as-racism motion could split the party and alienate Jewish members.
Polanski announced a three-year emergency rent-freeze capping rises at CPI growth or 2 % and banning evictions linked to rent hikes.

History

Historical Context

Rent control in England began in 1915 and was reshaped by a series of acts, notably the 1972 Counter-Inflation Order that froze private rents for an initial 90-day period (later 150 days). Green leader Zack Polanski’s three-year emergency rent-freeze echoes these historic caps, aiming to limit hikes to CPI or 2 % and pressuring councils such as Camden.

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Story summary

Zack Polanski, Green Party leader, is standing in the Holborn and St Pancras by-election to replace Keir Starmer.
Polanski says the vote tests progressive policies like cost-of-living relief, Thames Water nationalisation and ending Gaza’s genocide.
Senior Greens warned a Zionism-as-racism motion could split the party and alienate Jewish members.
Polanski announced a three-year emergency rent-freeze capping rises at CPI growth or 2 % and banning evictions linked to rent hikes.

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