Zack Polanski becomes first sole leader of the Green Party after landslide victory

Zack Polanski has made history by securing a decisive win in the Green Party of England and Wales leadership race, becoming the party’s first-ever sole leader.

Polanski clinched the role with 20,411 votes, leaving rivals Ellie Chowns and Adrian Ramsay far behind with just 3,705 votes. His campaign focused on an eco-populist message that blends climate action with social justice, promising to address the intertwined challenges of the housing crisis, rising living costs, and environmental breakdown.

In his acceptance speech, Polanski declared:

“The planet is burning, and so is the public’s patience. It’s time to tax extreme wealth and give people back a fair chance to live, breathe, and survive.”

He criticised Labour for failing to tackle the cost-of-living crisis and condemned the rise of far-right politics. Polanski argued that fairer taxation could fund affordable housing, green jobs, and free childcare without slashing public services.

When asked about future cooperation with other left-wing groups, including the party being built by former Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn and MP Zarah Sultana, Polanski noted it was “too soon for coalition talks” but signalled openness to partnerships that challenge the status quo

A Career Rooted in Climate Advocacy

Polanski has been a long-standing champion of environmental reform. First elected to the London Assembly in 2021, he chaired the Environment Committee and sat on key committees for Fire, Resilience, Emergency Planning, and the Economy.

In late 2021, he tabled a motion backing the Climate and Ecological Emergency Bill, gaining support across party lines. That effort later shaped the Climate and Nature Bill (2024), which aims to align the UK with Paris Agreement targets, halt biodiversity loss, and establish a citizen-led Climate and Nature Assembly.

Re-elected to the London Assembly in 2024, Polanski continued leading environmental policy efforts before launching his Green Party leadership campaign in May 2025.

Eco-Populism and Policy Vision

Polanski describes his politics as eco-populism, merging sustainability goals with solutions to everyday struggles. His proposals include:

Taxing extreme wealth instead of workers’ wages

Renationalising water companies

Regulating multinational corporations and financiers more strictly

Tackling high rents, energy bills, and wage stagnation through climate-centered policies

International observers have drawn comparisons between Polanski’s platform and progressive figures such as Zohran Mamdani in New York, who recently won the Democratic mayoral primary on promises of free childcare, affordable housing, and public transport funded by wealth taxes.

Polanski’s victory signals a bold new chapter for the Green Party, positioning it as a strong voice on both environmental sustainability and social equity.