New polling by a Labour-linked thinktank, ThinkLabour, suggests the Green Party is now just four percentage points behind Labour in urban areas. This places the Greens within striking distance of securing up to 40 seats in the next general election if current trends continue. The survey, conducted in the run-up to a key byelection in Holborn and St Pancras, highlights a growing shift in support from Labour to the Green Party, particularly in major cities. The findings suggest that Labour faces a significant challenge in retaining its urban base, especially as Green candidate Zack Polanski is set to contest the upcoming byelection in the area. The report's authors warn that past electoral strategies, which involved directly attacking the Greens, may not be effective in winning back urban voters. Christabel Cooper, one of the report’s authors, explained that previous assumptions about Labour’s ability to scare off Green voters with threats of a far-right government were no longer valid. "The Greens can now claim to be the progressives’ party of choice," she said. The report also notes that progressive voters tend to view aggressive criticism of the Greens as unappealing, even counterproductive, because it risks undermining Labour’s image as a liberal and inclusive party. The findings have been shared with strategists in the Prime Minister’s office, where efforts are underway to consolidate early polling gains made during the first weeks of Prime Minister Keir Starmer’s leadership. The research, however, was conducted before the full impact of the "Burnham bounce"—a surge in support for Labour from progressive voters—could be measured. Since the last general election, Green support has risen by 12 points in major cities, while Labour’s share of the vote has fallen by 20 points, leaving the party only slightly ahead in some of its traditional strongholds. The report also challenges stereotypes about Green voters, noting that support for the party has grown more among financially struggling voters than among affluent liberals. It suggests that Labour’s early policies under Starmer, such as cutting winter fuel payments, may have contributed to confusion about the party’s values. To win back urban voters, the report recommends focusing immigration reform on reducing small boat crossings rather than broader restrictions on legal migration. It also highlights the importance of making tough policies appear progressive and practical, rather than simply signaling to the right.