Hamza Chowdhury
Hamza Chowdhury is a British Green Party politician who has served as a councillor on Camden London Borough Council, representing the Holborn and Covent Garden ward, since May 2026. He was elected alongside fellow Green Party candidates Jim Monahan and James White, receiving 1,271 votes.
In September 2026, Chowdhury sought the Green Party nomination for the Holborn and St Pancras parliamentary by-election, challenging party leader Zack Polanski in the party's selection contest. Polanski was subsequently selected as the Green Party candidate.
Background
Chowdhury has described himself as a British Bengali who was born in the area and has emphasised his connections with Holborn and Camden.
During the Green Party selection contest for Holborn and St Pancras, Chowdhury presented himself as a locally based candidate and argued that elected representatives should maintain a regular presence in the constituency.
Camden London Borough Council
Chowdhury contested the Holborn and Covent Garden ward as a Green Party candidate in the Camden Council election held on 7 May 2026. He was elected alongside fellow Green candidates Jim Monahan and James White.
Chowdhury received 1,271 votes, the highest total among the candidates in the ward. Monahan received 1,176 votes and White received 1,144 votes, while Labour candidate Julian Fulbrook received 1,035.
Following the election, Chowdhury became a member of Camden London Borough Council representing Holborn and Covent Garden. His council profile lists his party affiliation as the Green Party and his political grouping as the Green Progressive Alliance.
His committee appointments include the Audit and Corporate Governance Committee, Planning Committee and full Council. He also serves on the Holborn District Management Committee and holds other council appointments.
Holborn and St Pancras Green Party selection
In September 2026, Chowdhury entered the Green Party selection to choose its candidate for the Holborn and St Pancras parliamentary by-election. The by-election followed the resignation of former prime minister Keir Starmer as the constituency's Member of Parliament.
Chowdhury's principal opponent in the selection was Green Party leader Zack Polanski. Chowdhury received nominations from six other Green councillors in Camden, allowing him to enter the selection contest.
The Guardian reported that the nominations did not necessarily mean that all six councillors preferred Chowdhury to Polanski; some had nominated him in order to give local party members a choice in the selection.
During the campaign, Chowdhury emphasised his local connections to Camden and argued for an MP who would remain accessible and regularly present within the constituency.
The contest was also reported by national publications including The Times and The Independent.
Following a vote of local Green Party members, Polanski was selected as the party's candidate for the by-election.
Political views and local priorities
During his campaign for the Green Party nomination, Chowdhury highlighted issues including housing, council estates, waste collection, street cleanliness and housing waiting lists in Camden.
He also emphasised the diversity of Holborn and St Pancras. In announcing his candidacy, he described himself as British Bengali and argued that the constituency's representation should reflect its diverse communities.
Electoral history
In the May 2026 Camden Council election for Holborn and Covent Garden, Chowdhury received 1,271 votes and was elected as a Green Party councillor. Fellow Green candidates Jim Monahan and James White were also elected, receiving 1,176 and 1,144 votes respectively.
External links
Councillor profile at Camden London Borough Council