Bold leadership focused on communities bringing people together. That’s not a slogan, it’s the promise of UK politics’ newest national leader, Zack Polanski, elected today as Leader of the Green Party of England and Wales.
Launching his leadership, Polanski promised action on the overlapping social and environmental crises. Polanski argues, inaction on the cost of housing and spiralling bills, and the cost of living has been justified through a “austerity consensus” pushed by a Westminster consensus. In contrast Polanski says it is time for an “honest conversation” about how we deliver affordable and safe homes, green jobs and free childcare. This, he argues, can be delivered by making “bold political choices” financed fairly by taxing wealth, not punishing the majority.
Zack continued:
“The planet is burning and so is the public’s patience. People are rightly feeling let down and angry at Labour and are appalled by the rise of the far-right. People have been crushed by spiralling rents and bills while wages have not kept pace. For too long it’s felt like there has been no reprieve. But there is a way forward.”
“We need bold action, bold leadership. It’s time the super-rich paid their share. It’s time to tax extreme wealth and redistribute it to those struggling to live, to breathe, to survive.”
Elected with the largest ever number of votes in a Green Party leadership election, Zack paid tribute to the previous leadership of Adrian Ramsay and Carla Denyer saying,
“My pitch to the country offering a vision of a real radical alternative is only possible because it builds on the success of recent years. We stand as a party with our highest ever membership, highest ever polling average, highest ever general election result, highest ever number of MPs and Councillors. This is because of the amazing work we’ve done with my predecessors. We’ve come so far, but this is only just the start. It’s time to take this bold vision of social and environmental justice up a gear. I come into this role today with urgency, purpose, and a single mission: To build a country where no one is left behind.”
Zack is a member of the London Assembly.
He served as Deputy Leader of the Green Party of England and Wales since 2022.
Zack is currently Chair of the London Assembly Fire Committee, and sits on both the Economy and Budget Committees. He has previously chaired the Environment Committee.
Before entering politics, Zack worked in community theatre, specialising in Theatre of the Oppressed with marginalised communities to help them tell their own stories. He also spent many years in hospitality, working in bars and nightclubs.
Outside of politics, Zack still loves the theatre, supports Forest Green Rovers and lives in Hackney with his partner Richie, who works in palliative care.