UK (Parliament Politics Magazine) – Green deputy Zack Polanski urges for a mass eco-populist movement to grow membership and counter the rise of Nigel Farage’s Reform UK.
As reported by The Guardian, a senior Green Party figure has initiated a surprise leadership challenge against Carla Denyer and Adrian Ramsay. MP argues that the party should abandon its cautious approach and transform itself into a mass-membership eco-populist force.
What did Zack Polanski say the Greens must learn from Nigel Farage?
Zack Polanski, Green deputy and London Assembly member is set to contest the leadership against Carla Denyer and Adrian Ramsay this summer, despite the pair having led the Green Party to its most successful general election result last year with four seats won.
He acknowledged the achievements of Denyer and Ramsay. Still, he stressed the need for the Greens to confront the growing influence of Reform UK, which has a membership four times larger and recently gained momentum with numerous seats in the 1 May local elections.
Mr Polanski stated,
“People are done with the two old parties and we’re in this dangerous moment where Nigel Farage is absolutely ready to fill that vacuum. We should never turn into Nigel Farage. But there are things we can learn in terms of being clear in speaking to people.”
He said,
“There’s an empty space in politics, where we’re not being as bold as we can be. Being sensible and professional are good qualities. But I don’t think they should be the central qualities.”
The Green deputy pointed to the 60,000-strong Green Party membership compared to Reform UK’s 220,000, highlighting the need for a new direction to close the gap.
Mr Polanski said,
“I don’t believe there are more people in this country who align with the politics of Reform than they do with the Green party. In fact we know that, because when Green party policies are polled, they are frequently the most-liked policies, and we are the most-liked party. So why are people not joining?”
He stated,
“We’re not visible enough. I don’t want to see our membership grow incrementally. I want to see us be a mass movement. There’s something here around eco-populism: still being absolutely based in evidence, science and data – and never losing that – but telling a really powerful story.”
Mr Polanski added that the Green Party must tap into the growing discontent with Labour, which is currently driving increased backing for Reform UK.
He stated,
“If you were trying to create the circumstances for the far right to rise, you would be doing exactly what Keir Starmer is doing now, which is protecting the wealth and power of the super-rich.”
What will a leadership change mean for the Greens after their recent gains?
Mr Polanski, a former Liberal Democrat who joined the Green Party in 2017, remains largely unknown to the public. Despite this, his increasing media presence has revealed a more combative style than Denyer or Ramsay, due to his background in community theatre and drama.
It’s a bold step to challenge the leadership of Denyer and Ramsay, who exceeded expectations by growing the Greens’ parliamentary seats last July, alongside Siân Berry and Ellie Chowns.
The Greens achieved additional local gains in the 1 May elections, securing 41 seats. However, projections for a national vote showed the party in fifth place with 11%, a strong result but without clear indications of a mass breakthrough.
According to party rules, the Green Party holds leadership elections every two years. However, Denyer and Ramsay were re-elected in 2021, with the cycle extended due to timetable changes and a delay caused by the general election.
The nominations for the upcoming leadership election will start on June 2, with party members expected to vote in August.
How will Polanski’s leadership bid be affected by past controversy?
The Green deputy leadership bid will attract greater attention, with a past incident resurfacing. In 2013, The Sun reported that Polanski, who was working as a hypnotherapist at the time, had allegedly offered to use his technique to enlarge a female client’s breasts.
He stated the suggestion came from the client, who was later identified as a journalist for The Sun, and that he did not take payment for the session. Mr Polanski claimed the goal was not for physical enlargement but to enhance the client’s self-image.
The Green deputy continued taking full responsibility, stating,
“I’m a grown adult, and I have the choice about what I do and don’t do. I’ve apologised for it, and I will stick by that apology.