Zack Polanski has stormed into the national spotlight as the newly elected leader of the Green Party in England and Wales, marking a bold new chapter for the party and its supporters. On September 2, 2025, Polanski secured a resounding victory in the leadership contest, winning 20,411 votes—by far the largest number ever recorded in a Green Party leadership election—against the joint ticket of Adrian Ramsay and Ellie Chowns, who received just 3,705 votes. This decisive win not only makes Polanski the first sole leader of the party but also signals a clear mandate for change from the Green membership.
Polanski’s journey to the helm of the party has been anything but conventional. Born David Paulden in Salford in 1982, he changed his surname to Polanski at 18 in honor of his grandfather’s original name and to embrace his Jewish heritage. After attending grammar school on a scholarship, then moving to a comprehensive college, he studied at Aberystwyth University in Wales before heading to the United States. Now 42, Polanski lives in Hackney, east London, is openly gay, vegan, and has been candid about his identity and past, including previous work as an actor, hypnotherapist, and mental health counselor.
Before finding his political home with the Greens, Polanski’s first foray into politics was with the Liberal Democrats. He stood unsuccessfully for Camden Council and the London Assembly, later criticizing the Lib Dems for not being progressive enough. In 2017, he joined the Green Party, quickly rising through the ranks to become a local party chair, then winning a London Assembly seat in 2021. He served as deputy leader from 2022 and was re-elected to the Assembly in 2024, becoming chair of its environment committee (BBC, The Conversation).
Polanski’s campaign for leadership was marked by a promise of “eco-populism”—a vision that seeks to fuse the party’s environmental credentials with a more accessible, emotionally resonant message. He pledged to transform the Green Party into a visible, mass-membership movement, telling Sky News, “We have to connect with that anger and turn it to hope, turn it to possible solutions.” Polanski has openly admired the storytelling prowess of Nigel Farage, stating that such communication skills could be repurposed to advance a radically different, progressive agenda. He wants the Greens to combine “substance with clickbait” to challenge rivals like Reform UK and reach beyond the party’s traditional base (BBC).
Central to Polanski’s platform is a commitment to tackling inequality and climate injustice in tandem. He has called for high taxes on billionaires, including a wealth tax, the renationalization of water companies, and tighter regulations on businesses. He supports Universal Basic Income, advocating for a non-means-tested payment for all, and has campaigned for affordable, warm homes. Polanski’s message is clear: “People cannot focus on the climate crisis if they are facing challenging economic concerns.”
In his victory speech, Polanski did not mince words, sending a pointed message to Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer: “We are not here to be disappointed by you, we are not here to be concerned by you, we’re here to replace you.” He promised “bold action and bold leadership,” vowing to nationalize water companies and hold the Labour government to account, especially over policies like the two-child benefit cap and disability cuts. Polanski also condemned what he described as “the genocide in Gaza,” and pledged to deliver “environmental, social, racial, and economic justice” every single day (The Independent).
The leadership contest, delayed from 2024 to avoid clashing with the general election, saw a 37% turnout among eligible voters. Polanski’s insurgent campaign actively encouraged new members to join and participate, leading to accusations of “entryism” from opponents—charges he has flatly denied. He has also addressed past controversies, notably apologizing for a 2013 hypnotherapy session with a Sun journalist, stating that “we are all more than one mistake” and emphasizing that the episode does not reflect his values or character today (BBC).
The Green Party’s recent electoral fortunes set the stage for Polanski’s ambitious plans. In the July 2024 general election, the party doubled its vote share and quadrupled its House of Commons representation to four MPs—its best-ever result. The Greens now boast over 800 council seats in more than 170 local authorities, two members of the House of Lords, and three London Assembly members. Their four MPs, including leadership rivals Ramsay and Chowns, now hold comfortable majorities, but the party is eyeing further growth, particularly in the 40 constituencies where it finished second—most of them Labour-held (The Conversation).
Polanski’s leadership comes at a time of heightened competition on the left. The Greens face challenges from Reform UK, which has made inroads in Labour areas, and a new left-wing party founded by Jeremy Corbyn and Zarah Sultana. Unlike some Green colleagues, Polanski sees potential collaboration rather than rivalry with Corbyn’s nascent movement, stating he is “open to working with anyone who’s up for challenging the far-right threat of Reform and this unpopular Labour government.” Jeremy Corbyn, in turn, congratulated Polanski, saying, “Your campaign took on the rich and powerful, stood up for the dignity of all marginalised communities, and gave people hope! Real change is coming.”
Activism remains a core part of Green identity, with Polanski and other party figures regularly participating in protests on issues ranging from tuition fees to environmental justice. He has been arrested for his activism with Extinction Rebellion and has linked the climate crisis to broader struggles for social and economic equality. The party’s distinctive blend of parliamentary work and grassroots activism is both its strength and, at times, a source of internal debate about how best to appeal to a broader electorate (The Conversation, BBC).
Polanski’s victory has not been without its critics. Ramsay and Chowns, who campaigned on continuity and careful strategy, warned that a sharp turn to the left and a more confrontational style could alienate moderate voters and jeopardize hard-won gains in former Conservative strongholds. Polanski addressed these concerns in his victory speech: “To those of you who didn’t vote for me, this is a democracy. We don’t have to agree on everything. We just have to have common cause.”
Looking ahead, Polanski has set an ambitious target: he wants the Greens to win at least 30 seats at the next general election and to increase their representation in the Welsh Senedd. With another leadership election due in two years, party members will soon have the chance to judge whether his bold new direction delivers on its promise.
As the dust settles, one thing is clear: the Green Party under Zack Polanski is betting that a mix of radical policy, emotional connection, and unapologetic activism can reshape the landscape of British politics. Whether that gamble pays off remains to be seen, but for now, Polanski’s victory has injected new energy—and plenty of intrigue—into the contest for the left of British politics.
