Portrait of Zack Polanski
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Zack Polanski on Andy Burnham

Conditional Labour ally (strong)

TL;DR

Zack Polanski expressed delight when Andy Burnham was blocked from a by-election but would work with him as Labour leader.

Key Points

  • The politician openly celebrated when Andy Burnham was not selected as the Labour candidate for the Gorton and Denton by-election in February 2026.

  • He stated he would be open to working with Labour under Andy Burnham's leadership, contrasting this with an outright refusal to work with Keir Starmer.

  • The initial reaction to Burnham's non-selection was that a Green victory in the by-election was "very probable" due to widespread anger at Labour.

Summary

Zack Polanski expressed overt pleasure upon learning that Andy Burnham was barred from contesting the Gorton and Denton by-election, admitting he "punched the air" and immediately felt a victory for his party was probable. This reaction stemmed from anger felt on the streets toward the Labour Party, and the Green leader suggested that even a popular politician like Burnham, being a Labour representative, could not overcome this sentiment, especially regarding issues like the cost of living or the conflict in Gaza. The newly elected Green MP from the constituency shared this view, suggesting Burnham's presence as a Labour candidate would not have secured the seat for the party.

However, Polanski indicated a conditional willingness to engage politically with the Mayor of Greater Manchester, stating he would consider a political partnership with Labour if Burnham were to become its leader, while simultaneously ruling out any such collaboration with the incumbent, Keir Starmer. The possibility of such an arrangement remains contingent on the Green Party achieving a sufficient number of seats and Burnham securing a return to Parliament as an MP.

Key Quotes

“I could see the potential to work with Andy Burnham to stop Reform and to challenge the rise of the far right. I would rule it out with Keir Starmer, but I wouldn't rule it out with Burnham.”

“I would be open to working with Labour if Andy Burnham was leader”

Frequently Asked Questions

Zack Polanski's position is conditional; he expressed satisfaction when Burnham was blocked from a key by-election but would consider a political partnership if Burnham became the leader of the Labour Party. This contrasts sharply with his stated refusal to work with the incumbent Labour leader.

Yes, Zack Polanski publicly stated that he "punched the air" upon hearing the news that Andy Burnham was not selected as the candidate for the Gorton and Denton by-election. He felt this removal made a Green victory highly probable.

The politician has clearly differentiated his stance: he would rule out working with Keir Starmer but indicated openness to a political alliance with Andy Burnham if the latter were to lead the Labour Party. This shows a specific preference among Labour figures.