Who is Zack Polanski?
Zack Polanski was born in Salford in 1982. He was elected to the London Assembly in 2021 and became deputy leader of the Green Party of England and Wales in 2022. In September 2025 he won the party leadership with over 80% of the vote, describing his approach as eco-populism that links climate policy with the cost of living. Under his leadership the party won the Gorton and Denton by-election in February 2026, its first by-election win, and made large gains in the May 2026 local elections. On 8 October 2026 he stood in the Holborn and St Pancras by-election after Keir Starmer left Parliament and came second to Labour with 33% of the vote, then said he would remain leader.
Previously: Member of the London Assembly (since 2021) · Deputy Leader of the Green Party of England and Wales (2022-2025) · Green candidate, Holborn and St Pancras by-election (8 October 2026, second place)
Documented positions
- Proposes an annual wealth tax of 1% on assets above £10 million and 2% for billionaires, alongside aligning capital gains tax with income tax.Source: greenparty.org.uk
- Supports bringing water companies into public control and a nationwide home insulation programme.Source: greenparty.org.uk
- Supports returning buses to public control and free bus travel for people under 22.Source: greenparty.org.uk
- Backs more council housing and wants local authorities to be given powers to introduce rent controls.Source: greenparty.org.uk
- Said in 2025 that the Greens' policy of staying in NATO was out of date and called for new alliances built on peace and diplomacy.Source: bylinetimes.com
- Called in December 2025 for money spent on enforcement at Calais to be redirected to a humanitarian response for migrants.Source: nation.cymru
- Called in 2026 for de-escalation over Iran and said the UK should work more closely with European countries rather than rely on the US.Source: politicshome.com
Record
Polanski has not held national office. Party membership grew substantially after his election as leader, and the Greens won their first London borough mayoralties, in Hackney and Lewisham, in May 2026. In May 2026 Metropolitan Police Commissioner Sir Mark Rowley criticised a post he had shared about a police arrest after a stabbing in Golders Green as inaccurate, and Polanski apologised for sharing it in haste. In October 2026 the party conference adopted a motion declaring the party anti-Zionist and treating Zionism as a form of racism, after which Israel barred him from entry; he did not vote on it and said criticism of the Israeli state and antisemitism are distinct.
Supporters cite the party's electoral growth and his focus on inequality and living costs. Critics question the cost of his tax plans, his stance on NATO and his handling of the conference motion.
In their words
“Bus privatisation has been an unmitigated disaster.”
