Zack Polanski Is Emerging As A New Champion On The Left. But Is This Just The Honeymoon Period?

Green Party leader Zack Polanski delivers his speech on the first day of its conference at Bournemouth International Centre.Zack Polanski promised to “pick fights” when he was elected on a landslide as the new Green Party leader last month – and it seems he has already delivered.Hours before the Greens’ annual conference even began in Bournemouth on Friday, he was arguing with broadcasters in the wake of Thursday’s terror attack on a Manchester synagogue, where two people died.After the home secretary Shabana Mahmood said it was “un-British” for pro-Palestine marches to go ahead after the attack while people are still grieving, Polanski openly disagreed.Speaking to Sky News, the London Assembly member, who is a Jewish man from Manchester, said it was “deeply irresponsible” to conflate the “protests against a genocide in Gaza” and the anti-semitic attack.And on BBC Radio 4′s Today programme, he defended his deputy leader Mothin Ali for previously appearing to criticise the legitimacy of Israel, claiming that it was a “nuanced conversation”.The comments quickly lit up social media.While his online critics slammed his remarks, party insiders backed Polanski for being “robust” in his defence in a way “a lot of other politicians” wouldn’t feel able to.Another senior source said: “It’s fucking distasteful to criticise a Jewish man over his reaction to this. Conflating those two separate events just plays into the anti-semitic tropes they’re complaining about, as we don’t even know the motive behind the attack.”Noting this was the first occasion critics had really managed to get their teeth into Polanski since he was elected, they added: “Of all the times to start really laying into him – now? Really?”But the new leader seemed nonplussed about the backlash while delivering his first keynote conference speech today.In a room overflowing with attendees, he managed to generate multiple standing ovations – and it was clear that the party faithful are still united in its support for the outspoken, anti-establishment figure.Despite having a policy-light speech, Polanski got the biggest reaction from delegates when he hailed the Greens’ plans for a wealth tax, made the party’s support for refugees clear and attacked Labour for bowing to Reform UK.“The prime minister might call this an island of strangers,” he said. “When Farage says jump, Labour might say ‘how high’. “But the Greens won’t dance to the tune of a Trump-loving, tax-avoiding, science-denying, NHS-dismantling corporate stooge!”It’s notable that Labour chose to respond to Polanski after his keynote speech, even though Keir Starmer left the Greens out of his own Labour conference address completely.A Labour spokesperson said: “It is no surprise that Zack Polanski, a man who said he wanted to learn from Nigel Farage, has done so in his speech today – using his platform to sow division and grievance.”Polanski has not been shy about adopting an “eco-populist” approach – but, like Farage’s anti-immigration populism, it’s a tactic that seems to be paying off, albeit on a smaller scale.The Greens say they have gained more than 10,000 new members since Polanski was elected, taking them to more than 80,000 in total.For context, Reform has 259,949 at the time of writing.Still, according to the More in Common think-tank, 31% of people currently willing to vote Green backed Labour in 2019, while 26% either did not or could not vote due to age.The party has crept up from 7% in the polls in July to 11% last month.Asked if the party minds Polanski’s more direct, confrontational approach, an insider shrugged: “Well, it’s clearly working.”But can they capitalise on this momentum?As one source claimed interest in the party has been “steadily rising” since the general election – and is not all to do with Polanski – there’s still plenty holding the Greens back.More in Common graphic shows where voters are coming fromMore in Common found just two in five British voters believe they are a serious party.The pollsters also revealed that the Greens struggle to convert those “considering” to vote Green into actual voters, even though they came second in 39 seats in the general election.More in Common’s executive director, Luke Tryl, told HuffPost UK: “Polanski’s populist left positioning resonates with voters who feel institutions aren’t working for them and that the system is rigged.“He’s also shown himself to be able to navigate the ‘attention economy’ – and is able to get his message out to voters who are less politically engaged.“However, there are risks; adopting such a left wing economic position could end up alienating voters in the more conservative-leaning seats they won from the Tories.”Tryl noted that the Greens also have a “credibility challenge” – which is partly why they struggle to win over those who would be open to voting for them.Perhaps they could replicate one of Reform’s attention-grabbing tactics and increase their Commons presence by persuading MPs to defect.One insider said: “There’s certainly been talk of defections. Labour MPs look so defeated right now. They are not having a good time.”Despite speculation that left-leaning Labour parliamentarians could cross the floor, a well-placed source insisted: “There’s nothing solid to announce just yet.”The insider also laughed at the prospect of forming some kind of electoral pact with Labour – “What have they done for us?” – and struggled to list the policies where they have anything in common.YouGov found Polanski is also polling four points behind Jeremy Corbyn among Green Party members, on 79% to the ex-Labour leader’s 83%.As Corbyn’s Your Party is trying to get off the ground, there’s been some suggestion that the progressive movement take the wind of Polanski’s sails.A senior Green said while the party gets along well with Your Party, they are not exactly established – or united – right now, so “hardly” a threat.Walking around the conference, delegates are excitedly talking about taking advantage of the disillusionment around Labour before Reform gets there first.But, as it stands, the Greens have four MPs and a leader who does not have a seat in the Commons. The Greens have also promised at every conference – for at least a decade – that this year would be a turning point for the party.Insiders admitted they are not even sure if this was definitely the largest gathering they’ve ever had for conference.Only time will tell if Polanski’s new approach will finally take the Greens out of the shadows.Related...Exclusive: Green Party Frontrunner Zack Polanski On Trying To Make It From Outside 'Dull' WestminsterExclusive: Labour Staffers Say They Are 'Embarrassed' To Work For The Party Amid Starmer WoesYour Party's Latest Fiasco Has The Disillusioned Left Looking In Just One Direction – And It's Not At Corbyn

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