Zack Polanski has called on voters to support the Green Party as a means of pressuring the Labour government into adopting more progressive policies. Speaking at the party’s annual conference in Brighton, the Green leader argued that sustained activism is necessary to move Labour toward stronger action on climate change, housing, and foreign policy.
Polanski claimed that the Greens have already succeeded in shifting Labour’s stance on issues including Israel and environmental protections. However, he criticized the government for falling short on housing, calling for an immediate three-year cap on private sector rent increases. “Vote Green, and watch Labour move,” he told attendees, positioning his party as the catalyst for necessary change.
The leader faced questions regarding recent polling trends and the impact of Andy Burnham’s rise within Labour, yet he dedicated his address largely to attacking the current government’s record. He accused Labour of offering “slogans without action” on the cost of living and vowed that only the Greens would tackle what he termed “Rip Off Britain.”
A significant portion of the speech focused on housing, where Polanski accused Labour of failing to challenge the influence of developers and large landlords. He proposed an “emergency brake” on rents, preventing them from rising above the lowest of consumer price inflation, wage growth, or 2 percent over a three-year period.
On energy, Polanski highlighted the recent wildfires and extreme heat as evidence that the government must block new oil and gas projects. He urged Burnham to honor manifesto commitments by rejecting applications for the Rosebank oil field and Jackdaw gas field, stating that new fossil fuel extraction is incompatible with climate goals.
The conference also addressed a contentious motion defining Zionism as a form of racism. While senior figures, including former leader Caroline Lucas and deputy leader Rachel Millward, expressed concern that the motion could alienate Jewish members, Polanski sought amendments to prevent the policy from being used to discipline Jewish attendees at Zionist synagogues. He advocated replacing the call for a single Palestinian state with support for a settlement determined by Palestinians themselves, ensuring equal rights for all inhabitants.
When pressed on whether Israel has a right to exist, Polanski emphasized the rights of people over nations, stating, “Both Israelis have a right to exist and Palestinians have a right to exist.” He reiterated his focus on tangible actions, such as campaigning against UK arms sales and intelligence sharing with Israel.
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