Zack Polanski elected leader of the Green Party

 Zack Polanski elected leader of the Green Party

Zack Polanski has been elected leader of the Green Party of England and Wales by a landslide, signalling a clear shift to the left for the party.

The London Assembly member beat Green MPs Adrian Ramsay and Ellie Chowns, who were standing on a joint ticket, by 20,411 votes to 3,705.

In his victory speech, Polanski promised to build a "green left" to take on Labour, telling Sir Keir Starmer's party: "We are here to replace you."

His election potentially opens the door to cooperation with the new left-wing party being set up by former Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn and ex-Labour MP Zarah Sultana.

He said it was "too soon to talk about joining electoral coalitions", but he was interested in working with "anyone who wants to challenge a failing Labour government and take on fascism and the far right".

Asked about possible collaboration with Corbyn's new party, he said he was "watching the situation very closely" but his immediate focus was on growing the Green Party.

Polanski, a former actor who was the party's deputy leader, campaigned on an "eco-populism" platform and has promised to make the party "bolder" and more radical in its approach.

In his victory speech, he said: "If you're feeling hopeless, if you're feeling in despair, if you're feeling politically homeless, there is a political home for you.

zack polanski

green party

adrian ramsay

green party leader

green party leadership