Portrait of Zack Polanski
Politician · policy
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Zack Polanski on Immigration

Managed compassionate response (strong) Position evolved

TL;DR

Zack Polanski advocates for a compassionate, fair, and managed migration system while rejecting open borders as currently pragmatic.

Key Points

  • He rejects claims that the Green Party would push for open borders, stating it is not pragmatic right now due to global turmoil.

  • His party's policy focus includes abolishing the Home Office and replacing it with a department of migration, while ending the "hostile environment."

  • He argues that migration is Britain's superpower, recognizing the contribution migrants make, particularly in the NHS and care sectors.

Summary

Zack Polanski, the Green Party leader, has strongly asserted that his party does not advocate for open borders, characterizing that idea as a "long-range vision" rather than a current policy. Speaking from Calais, he stressed the need for a compassionate, fair, and managed response to migration, explicitly stating that open borders is "not a pragmatic" solution when the world is in political turmoil. His stated position is one that acknowledges the significant contribution migrants make to the UK, citing their roles in essential sectors like the NHS and social care.

He has distanced the party manifesto from the open borders claim, which he suggests is used by opponents as an attack line to discredit him. His focus has been on reforming the system, including calls to end the hostile environment and replace the Home Office with a dedicated department of migration. This shift in emphasis from maximal openness toward a managed system suggests an evolution, as he navigates the political reality while maintaining a fundamentally welcoming stance for those seeking a better life.

Key Quotes

Britain has always been built on the contribution of people who've arrived here to build a better life, and our future depends on us embracing that truth, not denying it.

Now, I don't know about you, but I don't particularly want to wipe someone's bum

Frequently Asked Questions

Zack Polanski advocates for a managed, fair, and compassionate response to migration, emphasizing the positive contributions of migrants to the UK. He has strongly distanced himself from the idea of open borders as a current policy, calling it impractical for the present global climate.

He explicitly rejects the notion that open borders is current Green Party policy, stating it is not pragmatic given the current world situation. He refers to open borders as a "long-range vision" for a different society, not a manifesto commitment.

The Green leader states that migration is Britain's superpower and has highlighted the essential work migrants do in sectors like the NHS and social care. He believes the country has always been built on the contributions of newcomers.