Zack Polanski’s Message of Hope

For some time now I’ve been following with interest – and a growing sense of hope – the political rise of Zack Polanski, a gay Jewish man who in September became the leader of the Green Party of England and Wales.

Polanski describes his political views as eco-populist, linking issues such as high costs of living with climate change, and supporting a wealth tax to reduce inequality.

Wrote Polanski earlier this month:

My leadership is about tackling the system that is driving inequality and making life literally unaffordable for millions. It’s about confronting the cost of living crisis that’s forcing families to choose between heating and eating.

But it’s more than just calling out the problem and those responsible for it. . . . [W]e’re offering a message of hope grounded in practical action. And it’s resonating. . . . [P]eople are hungry for something different. . . . [The Green Party’s] vision of bold leadership means taxing extreme wealth fairly, restoring and reimagining our public services, and treating migrants and refugees not as scapegoats but as neighbours. . . . This is a politics built on authenticity, straight talking and straight action. It’s about refusing to let racism, Islamophobia, or fear mongering divide us.

Since Polanski became leader, membership in the Green Party has surged in ways that have sent shockwaves throughout the political establishment. The Green Party has now surpassed the Labour Party to become the second most popular party in the country. In addition, a number of Labour members of parliament have defected to the Greens, the latest being Lloyd Russel-Moyle. The progressive populist Greens are now poised to challenge, perhaps even surpass in popularity Nigel Farage’s right-wing populist party, Reform UK.

Earlier today, Zack Polanski was interviewed by Ava Santina of the PoliticsJOE podcast. As I hope you'll see, it's a great interview, and a perfect introduction to Zack if you're just now hearing about him for the first time.





Related Off-site Links:
Zack Polanski Will Be the Most Powerful Man on the Left – Megan Kenyon (New Statesman, November 12, 2025).
The Right Can Mock My Teeth All It Wants – It Shows the Greens Have Struck a Nerve – Zack Polanski (The Guardian, November 10, 2025).
“Hope Has Just Won in New York – It Can Win Here Too” – Zack Polanski (The Observer, November 6, 2025).
Mamdani and Polanski: Can a New Left Undo Trump’s Climate Reversal? – Channel 4 News (November 6, 2025).
Zack Polanski Humiliates Andrew Marr Live on Air – Antony Jones (via YouTube, November 6, 2025).
“We Need to Make Hope Normal Again”: Zack Polanski on How a Zohran Mamdani Win Will Send Shockwaves Around the World – Bold Politics (October 31, 2025).
The British Mamdani? Meet Political Star Zack Polanski – Mehdi Hasan (Zeteo (October 23, 2025).
Zack Polanski and the Reform Party’s Zia Yusuf Go Head-to-Head on Question Time – Novara Media (October 10, 2025).
Let’s Make Hope Normal Again – Green Party of England and Wales (via Facebook, October 6, 2025).
Just Zack Polanski Being a Legend – PoliticsJOE (September 3, 2025).
Zack Polanski Interview – The News Agents (July 19, 2025).

UPDATE: Zack Polanski and the Rise of the Green Party – Harry Marshall (The Badger, December 1, 2025).


See also the previous Wild Reed posts:
• “The Answer, Actually, Is Hope”
• Progressive Perspectives on Zohran Mamdani’s Win in New York City
• “Hopeful and Grounded”: Omar Fateh’s Vision of Democratic Socialism
• Active Hope
• Why “Revolutionary Love” Gives Michelle Alexander Hope
• The Choice Before Us
• Hope and Courage – Christmas 2024
• Something We Dare Call Hope
• “I Came Alive With Hope”
• Resilience and Hope


Image: Matthew Horwood / Getty Images.