Zack Polanski, the 43-year-old self-styled “eco-populist” leader of the UK Green Party, is banking on a political breakthrough in this week’s local elections, presenting himself as a progressive alternative to Keir Starmer’s governing Labour Party.
More than 5,000 council seats are up for grabs on Thursday across 136 local authorities, including London and other major UK cities. Polling group YouGov suggests the Greens could make major gains in the capital, potentially coming first in as many as eight of London’s 32 councils.
The party’s ratings have steadily improved since Polanski was elected leader in a landslide victory in September last year. In February, the Greens won their first-ever parliamentary by-election, taking the Gorton and Denton constituency from Labour, which had held it for nearly a century.
Polanski is viewed by political observers as a media-savvy representative of a green socialist movement seeking to inspire younger generations, akin to New York’s Zohran Mamdani. Under his leadership, the party has expanded beyond its core environmental mission, experts say.
Tim Bale, professor of politics at Queen Mary University of London, noted that the Greens have become “far more left-liberal and pro-Gaza focused than environmentally concerned.” He attributed the party’s rising poll ratings to Polanski’s communication skills, Israel’s wars on Gaza and Lebanon, and widespread frustration among left-liberal voters with Starmer’s hardline immigration rhetoric.
If polls are accurate, the local vote could consolidate the Greens’ position as an alternative to Labour. Polanski promotes “eco-populism,” linking environmental policies with socialist measures such as a wealth tax on billionaires, stronger workers’ rights, and a £15-per-hour minimum wage.
Polanski has called on Starmer’s government to act over Israel’s genocide in Gaza, labeling it “collective punishment” and urging an immediate end to arms sales to Israel, a permanent ceasefire, and a full international investigation into war crimes.
However, Polanski’s popularity has taken a hit ahead of the elections following a row with the Metropolitan Police chief after two Jewish men were stabbed in Golders Green. He apologized for sharing an “inaccurate” post criticizing police officers’ actions during the incident.
Additionally, Green Party candidates have faced accusations of anti-Semitism over social media posts. Despite Polanski’s assurance that “antisemitism, Islamophobia, any form of hatred is not welcome in the Green Party,” last-minute polls suggest the accusations could cost votes.
Bale predicted that support for the Greens will remain strong in multicultural inner-city London and “some ‘artsy’ towns,” but the party is unlikely to gain control of many councils, even if it wins plenty of councillors from Labour.
Source: www.aljazeera.com