Zack Polanski has launched a surprise bid to lead the Green Party, sending a ripple through UK left-wing politics that – depending on your view – is either a necessary jolt or a dangerous gamble.
The current deputy leader is pitching what he calls “eco-populism” – an ambitious plan to turn the Greens into a mass movement, matching the scale and grassroots energy of Reform UK, but grounded in climate science, social justice and evidence-led policy.
It’s a bold vision, and one that may resonate with a public increasingly disillusioned with both Labour’s lurch to the right and the Tories’ collapse.
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For This Writer, Polanski was a standout during the 2024 general election campaign.
Articulate, confident and media-savvy, he helped present a sharper, more vibrant image of the Greens, contributing to the party’s best-ever performance at the ballot box.
Winning four MPs and boosting local representation, Carla Denyer and Adrian Ramsay’s leadership delivered results – but Polanski’s pitch is that it’s time to go bigger.
Buy Cruel Britannia in print here. Buy the Cruel Britannia ebook here. Or just click on the image!
There is logic in that. As Polanski points out, Green policies routinely top popularity polls, yet party membership lags far behind Reform UK. If the appetite is there, why not feed it with a bolder, more emotionally resonant message?
But there are risks. “Populism” is a loaded term – even with the “eco” prefix – and aligning the Greens too closely with the tactics of Nigel Farage, even rhetorically, could alienate the party’s traditional base.
Many members are wary of charismatic top-down figures or strategies that resemble the very populist forces the Greens oppose.
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Polanski himself comes with some political baggage. A former Lib Dem, he was a vocal critic of Jeremy Corbyn during his Labour leadership – a stance that might not sit well with much of the Left, especially as Corbynism remains a galvanising force for many progressives.
Nonetheless, Polanski now enjoys the backing of left-wing commentators like Owen Jones and grassroots voices such as Kernow Damo, suggesting his reach is broader than some may expect.
That reach will be tested. While he’s dynamic in interviews and popular on platforms like YouTube, Polanski remains relatively unknown outside political circles.
His past as a hypnotherapist – including a now-infamous incident involving a tabloid sting – has already resurfaced, and his every move will now face scrutiny.
Meanwhile, the Green-led administration in Bristol is mired in controversy over city-centre roadworks and accessibility issues, providing an unfortunate counterweight to Polanski’s calls for Green radicalism. Bristolians like This Writer’s own family members are angry.
If the party wants to appeal to disaffected voters in working-class communities, it must ensure that environmental goals don’t become synonymous with inconvenience or exclusion.
The leadership challenge also raises questions about timing.
Denyer and Ramsay presided over significant electoral success and are widely respected inside the party. A contest now could risk division, just as the Greens are starting to break into the national conversation in a meaningful way.
Help fund great articles! We’re aiming for £50 to cover research and reporting time this week.
Can you chip in £3 today?
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Still, in a political landscape where many feel voiceless and disengaged, Polanski’s call to fill “the empty space in politics” may resonate.
Whether he represents a rejuvenation or a rupture remains to be seen – but his candidacy ensures the Greens won’t be accused of standing still.
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Zack Polanski bids for Green Party leadership: eco-populism or a risky rebrand?
Zack Polanski has launched a surprise bid to lead the Green Party, sending a ripple through UK left-wing politics that – depending on your view – is either a necessary jolt or a dangerous gamble.
The current deputy leader is pitching what he calls “eco-populism” – an ambitious plan to turn the Greens into a mass movement, matching the scale and grassroots energy of Reform UK, but grounded in climate science, social justice and evidence-led policy.
It’s a bold vision, and one that may resonate with a public increasingly disillusioned with both Labour’s lurch to the right and the Tories’ collapse.
Help fund great articles! We’re aiming for £50 to cover research and reporting time this week.
Can you chip in £3 today?
👉 https://ko-fi.com/voxpolitical
For This Writer, Polanski was a standout during the 2024 general election campaign.
Articulate, confident and media-savvy, he helped present a sharper, more vibrant image of the Greens, contributing to the party’s best-ever performance at the ballot box.
Winning four MPs and boosting local representation, Carla Denyer and Adrian Ramsay’s leadership delivered results – but Polanski’s pitch is that it’s time to go bigger.
Buy Cruel Britannia in print here. Buy the Cruel Britannia ebook here. Or just click on the image!
There is logic in that. As Polanski points out, Green policies routinely top popularity polls, yet party membership lags far behind Reform UK. If the appetite is there, why not feed it with a bolder, more emotionally resonant message?
But there are risks. “Populism” is a loaded term – even with the “eco” prefix – and aligning the Greens too closely with the tactics of Nigel Farage, even rhetorically, could alienate the party’s traditional base.
Many members are wary of charismatic top-down figures or strategies that resemble the very populist forces the Greens oppose.
Get my free guide: “10 Political Lies You Were Sold This Decade” — just subscribe to our email list here:
👉 https://voxpoliticalonline.com
Polanski himself comes with some political baggage. A former Lib Dem, he was a vocal critic of Jeremy Corbyn during his Labour leadership – a stance that might not sit well with much of the Left, especially as Corbynism remains a galvanising force for many progressives.
Nonetheless, Polanski now enjoys the backing of left-wing commentators like Owen Jones and grassroots voices such as Kernow Damo, suggesting his reach is broader than some may expect.
That reach will be tested. While he’s dynamic in interviews and popular on platforms like YouTube, Polanski remains relatively unknown outside political circles.
His past as a hypnotherapist – including a now-infamous incident involving a tabloid sting – has already resurfaced, and his every move will now face scrutiny.
Meanwhile, the Green-led administration in Bristol is mired in controversy over city-centre roadworks and accessibility issues, providing an unfortunate counterweight to Polanski’s calls for Green radicalism. Bristolians like This Writer’s own family members are angry.
If the party wants to appeal to disaffected voters in working-class communities, it must ensure that environmental goals don’t become synonymous with inconvenience or exclusion.
The leadership challenge also raises questions about timing.
Denyer and Ramsay presided over significant electoral success and are widely respected inside the party. A contest now could risk division, just as the Greens are starting to break into the national conversation in a meaningful way.
Help fund great articles! We’re aiming for £50 to cover research and reporting time this week.
Can you chip in £3 today?
👉 https://ko-fi.com/voxpolitical
Still, in a political landscape where many feel voiceless and disengaged, Polanski’s call to fill “the empty space in politics” may resonate.
Whether he represents a rejuvenation or a rupture remains to be seen – but his candidacy ensures the Greens won’t be accused of standing still.
Vox Political needs your help!
If you want to support this site
(but don’t want to give your money to advertisers)
you can make a one-off donation here:
Be among the first to know what’s going on! Here are the ways to manage it:
1) Register with us by clicking on ‘Subscribe’ (bottom right of the home page). You can then receive notifications of every new article that is posted here.
2) Follow VP on Twitter @VoxPolitical
3) Like the Facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/VoxPolitical/
Join the Vox Political Facebook page.
4) You could even make Vox Political your homepage at http://voxpoliticalonline.com
5) Follow Vox Political writer Mike Sivier on BlueSky
6) Join the MeWe page at https://mewe.com/p-front/voxpolitical
7) Feel free to comment!
And do share with your family and friends – so they don’t miss out!
If you have appreciated this article, don’t forget to share it using the buttons at the bottom of this page. Politics is about everybody – so let’s try to get everybody involved!
Buy Vox Political books so we can continue
fighting for the facts.
Cruel Britannia is available
in either print or eBook format here:
The Livingstone Presumption is available
in either print or eBook format here:
Health Warning: Government! is now available
in either print or eBook format here:
The first collection, Strong Words and Hard Times,
is still available in either print or eBook format here:
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