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.

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.

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.

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.

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.