Zack Polanski
- Known for
- Green Party Leader, London Assembly member
- Born in
- Salford, United Kingdom
- Education
- Aberystwyth University
Zack Polanski is the current Leader of the Green Party of England and Wales, rising to prominence as a member of the London Assembly. He describes his political philosophy as "eco-populist," linking economic struggles directly with the climate crisis. His tenure has been marked by significant party growth and notable electoral success.
Signature Positions
Polanski’s platform centers on intertwining social justice, economic fairness, and environmentalism:
- Wealth Tax: Advocates for significant taxation on billionaires, viewing wealth tax as fairer than income tax to reduce inequality.
- Gaza/Israel: Maintains a strong critical stance on the UK's involvement and the conflict, calling for an end to arms sales to Israel.
- Electoral Reform: Supports replacing the first-past-the-post system with proportional representation and abolishing the House of Lords.
- NATO: Critical of the UK's current relationship, advocating for eventual withdrawal in favour of European defence diplomacy.
- NHS Data: Vigorously campaigns against the use of Palantir in managing NHS data, deeming it inappropriate for health services.
How Views Have Evolved
Polanski’s political journey shows a significant shift in party allegiance and focus. He began his activism as a member of the Liberal Democrats, even running as a council candidate for them.
He left the Lib Dems in 2017, citing unhappiness over their support for air strikes in Syria, and joined the Greens, where he found a better alignment with his evolving views on foreign policy and social issues.
His stance on Israel has also evolved; he stated he was raised Zionist but has since moved to a much more critical position regarding the current government's actions.
As party leader, Polanski has successfully energized the Green base, overseeing a threefold increase in party membership since taking the helm. His success in the 2026 Gorton and Denton by-election, where the Green candidate defeated both Labour and Reform UK, marks a historic parliamentary breakthrough.
He has positioned the party on the economic left of Labour, aiming to capture disillusioned voters, and expressed enthusiasm for challenging the political narrative of Reform UK.