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Zack Polanski
Zack Polanski
Zack Polanski
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Zack Polanski (born David Paulden; 2 November 1982) is a British politician who has been the Leader of the Green Party of England and Wales since September 2025, succeeding the joint leadership of Carla Denyer and Adrian Ramsay, and a member of the London Assembly (AM) since May 2021. Before being elected leader, Polanski was previously the Deputy Leader of the Greens from 2022 to 2025.

Key Information

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

Early life

[edit]

Zack Polanski was born David Paulden on 2 November 1982[1] in Salford, Greater Manchester, to a Jewish family who had moved to the UK from Eastern Europe in the early twentieth century and had adopted the surname of Paulden in hopes of evading antisemitism.[2][3] At age 18 he changed his name, restoring his familial name of Polanski, later saying it was important for him to find pride, not shame, in his identity.[2] He also changed his first name, selecting Zack in homage to a Jewish character from the novel Goodnight Mister Tom, and to differentiate himself from his stepfather, also named David.[3]

His parents divorced when he was young.[4]

Polanski grew up in Salford, and attended the fee-paying Stockport Grammar School on a scholarship before moving to Cheadle and Marple Sixth Form College, which was then known as Ridge Danyers College.[4][5][6] He studied at Aberystwyth University and later attended a drama school in Georgia in the United States. He moved to London in the mid-'00s on graduation.[4][7]

Polanski worked with the theatre company DifferencENGINE as an immersive theatre actor, including appearances in The Hollow Hotel and The People's Revolt (in the Tower of London).[8][9] He taught at the Academy of Live and Recorded Arts and the National Centre for Circus Arts. Polanski also sang for the London International Gospel Choir.[10][11][12]

Polanski also worked as a hypnotherapist. In 2013, a journalist for The Sun requested a hypnotherapy session from him to increase her breast size and body image self-confidence for an article in the paper. Polanski featured in the published article. Polanski said that he did not charge for the session, that the article did not accurately reflect the situation and apologised for his involvement.[3][13][14][15]

In politics

[edit]

Liberal Democrats

[edit]

Polanski was active in the Liberal Democrats.[3] He stood as a Liberal Democrat council candidate for St Pancras and Somers Town in a 2015 by-election to Camden London Borough Council.[16] He stood in the Barnet and Camden constituency and was fifth on the London-wide list for the party in the 2016 London Assembly election.[5] In June 2016, he heckled Jeremy Corbyn at a Momentum rally owing to Corbyn's stance on the EU.[17] Polanski put his name forward in the Richmond Park by-election held in December 2016 but the selection list was restricted to local residents. According to Private Eye, Polanski was dismayed at the decision and requested the decision be reviewed, feeling that the party was not interested in what he could contribute as a "gay Jewish renter".[18]

Before leading the Green Party

[edit]

Polanski left the Liberal Democrats[19] and joined the Green Party in 2017 after interacting with former leader Natalie Bennett.[3] He stood as the Green candidate in the Cities of London and Westminster parliamentary constituency at the 2019 general election and finished in fourth place of six candidates, with 1.7%.[20] Before his election to the London Assembly, he became treasurer of the Jewish Greens.[21] In 2018, Polanski wrote on Twitter about an alleged conversation that he overheard in a restaurant, involving the then chief secretary to the Treasury, Liz Truss. According to Polanski, Truss criticised several of her colleagues and he said that the public deserved to know that she spoke differently in public compared to private.[22] He took part in Extinction Rebellion protests and was arrested at a protest in April 2019.[14][4][23]

On 6 May 2021, Polanski was elected a Member of the London Assembly, having been third on the Green Party's London-wide list.[3] He also stood in the West Central constituency, where he came third,[24] and for the Churchill by-election to Westminster City Council, where he came fourth[25] on the same day. In the new Assembly, Polanski was elected to be the chair of the Environment committee and to be on the Committee for Fire, Resilience and Emergency Planning and the Economy Committee.

In December 2021, Polanski proposed a successful motion in the London Assembly backing the Climate and Ecological Emergency bill. It was a cross-party motion with Labour and Liberal Democrat support.[26][27] In 2021 he was also the Green Party's national spokesperson for democracy and citizen engagement.[28]

On 6 June 2022, Polanski announced his candidacy in the 2022 Green Party of England and Wales deputy leadership election.[29] The Wales Green Party gave their endorsement of his candidacy for deputy leader.[30] On 7 September 2022, he was elected Deputy Leader, succeeding Amelia Womack.[31]

Polanski linked the cost-of-living crisis and the climate crisis, putting workers' rights at the heart of his platform. Polanski stated, "A higher wage economy is a green economy, and the Green party will always stand side by side with people who face economic, social and environmental struggles."[32]

In May 2024, Polanski was re-elected to the London Assembly and, in June 2024, re-elected as Chair of the London Assembly Environment Committee.[33] During the 2024 United Kingdom general election campaign, The Guardian praised Polanski for being a "fluent media performer".[34] In January 2025, Polanski refused to have an all-male panel in London's Environment Committee insisting on a diversity of speakers. The Conservatives walked out of the meeting calling Polanski's actions "left wing identity politics".[35]

In May 2025, Polanski announced his candidacy for the 2025 Green Party of England and Wales leadership election.[13] In his announcement, he said that the Greens needed to be able to challenge Reform UK's political narrative and to take advantage of political disillusionment with the Labour Party.[13] Later that week, Owen Jones endorsed Polanski in The Guardian.[36] Senior members of the Green Party, including Caroline Lucas, endorsed Polanski's opponents.[37] Polanski has stated that, under his leadership, the party will focus on "redistributing wealth, funding public services, and calling out the genocide in Gaza".[19] Polanski repeatedly links environmental, social, racial and economic justice.[38]

Leader of the Green Party

[edit]
Number of registered members of the Green Party, showing the spike in membership after Polanski was elected

On 2 September 2025, Polanski was elected as leader of the Green Party in a landslide, with 85% of the vote share,[39] succeeding Carla Denyer and Adrian Ramsay in that position and beating a rival bid from MPs Ramsay and Ellie Chowns. The Green Party saw its membership rise by at least 8% from May to July 2025, when Polanski launched his leadership bid, in what some have described as a "Polanski surge". Novara Media claimed that the party has at least 65,000 members, slightly behind its 2015 peak of 67,000. The party confirmed its membership figures to be 68,500 following the announcement of leadership election results[39][40]. Membership rose to over 75,000 by 19 September following the emergence of in-fighting within the recently announced Your Party[41] and to 100,000 by 12 October, putting it above the Liberal Democrats.[42][43] On 19 October, the party announced that their membership numbers had overtaken that of the Conservative Party.[44]

In his first speech as leader, Polanski said the Green Party aims to replace the Labour Party, and expressed enthusiasm for working with others who were critical both of the Labour Party and of fascism.[39] Polanski also said he could not imagine supporting a coalition government led by Keir Starmer.[39] He has said his top priority is the Wales Green Party winning its first member of the Senedd in the next Senedd election.[45] In his first days as leader, he released the first episode of his weekly podcast Bold Politics with Zack Polanski which reached fourth place in the UK news podcast charts by 8 September, and visited Nigel Farage's parliamentary seat in Clacton to speak to the Reform UK seat's constituents.[46]

On 30 September, Polanski was listed in Time Magazine's 2025 100 Next, listing the world's 100 most influential rising stars.[47] On 3 October, he addressed his first annual party conference in Bournemouth, in which he called for a wealth tax, an end to the sale of arms to Israel, and criticised other parties for attacking civil liberties and immigrants.[48] In a subsequent interview with the Byline Times, he stated his intention to run for parliament in the next general election.[49]

Political views

[edit]

Polanski has labelled his political views as eco-populist, combining environmental, socialist politics and populism.[50] Additionally, Politico Europe and the New Statesman have described his approach to leading the Green Party as representing a populist left form of politics.[51][52] Polanski argues that people are unable to consider the climate crisis if they are struggling with day-to-day material concerns such as high rent burden, and high costs of food or heating.[4][53] In addition to green politics, Polanski has advocated for increasing taxes on billionaires, renationalising water companies, challenging lack of government subsidy on net zero policies, and regulating private corporations more.[4][54][55][56][53][57] Polanski has also supported the introduction of a wealth tax, believing that tax on wealth is fairer than one focused on work-based income and that it would reduce inequality.[58][53]

Polanski has stated that he believes that the Gaza war is a genocide and should be treated as such by the UK government.[59]

Polanski is critical of the UK's relationship with the United States and NATO, and advocates the UK's eventual withdrawal from NATO.[60][61] Polanski has said he believes that the UK's membership of NATO was untenable in the long-term, in part due to Donald Trump's threats to annex Greenland,[62] as well as NATO prioritising militarism before diplomacy.[53] Polanski has suggested that establishing organisations that prioritise European defence, democracy, diplomacy and international peace would allow for the UK to eventually leave NATO.[53][61][60]

Personal life

[edit]

Polanski is gay and vegan.[63][64][65] He lives in the London Borough of Hackney with his partner, who works in palliative care.[63][66]

See also

[edit]

References

[edit]
[edit]
Revisions and contributorsEdit on WikipediaRead on Wikipedia

Zack Polanski

View on Grokipedia
from Grokipedia
Zack Polanski (born David Paulden; 1982) is a British politician serving as Leader of the of since September 2025 and as a member of the London Assembly for the Londonwide constituency since 2021. Born in to a Jewish family, he changed his name at age 18 and identifies as and vegan; prior to politics, he worked as an , hypnotherapist, and counselor, including a 2013 incident where he was recorded offering a hypnosis session purportedly to enlarge breasts to a journalist as a one-off journalistic stunt without charge, for which he later apologized. Polanski joined the in 2017 after unsuccessful runs as a Liberal Democrat candidate, becoming deputy leader in 2022 following his initial Assembly election, and securing re-election in 2024 while chairing London's Environment Committee to address issues like and . He won the party leadership decisively with over 20,000 votes against a joint ticket of sitting co-leaders, campaigning on "eco-populism" that prioritizes mass mobilization against economic rigging by elites, including proposals for wealth taxes on billionaires, , renationalization of water utilities, and aggressive green energy transitions to lower bills. As leader, he has positioned the Greens as a left-wing alternative to Labour, announcing defections of Labour councillors and advocating via , while critiquing policies on migration, policing, and foreign affairs like Gaza. His approach emphasizes direct communication and energy, drawing comparisons to populist figures but focused on environmental and causes.

Early Life and Background

Birth, Family, and Name Change

Zack Polanski was born David Paulden on 2 November 1982 in , , . He was raised in a whose ancestors had emigrated to from via and , facing persistent that prompted his forebears to anglicize their surname from Polanski to Paulden upon arrival in the UK. Limited public information exists regarding his immediate , though he has referenced a stepfather named and an abusive family member sharing that name, which influenced aspects of his personal identity. Upon turning 18, Polanski legally changed his name from David Paulden to Zack Polanski, reverting the surname to his family's original Polish-Jewish form to reclaim and express pride in his heritage, which had been obscured by prior name alterations amid historical . He selected the first name Zack partly to distinguish himself from his stepfather and avoid associations with the aforementioned abusive relative, both named . This change underscored his embrace of , positioning him as the first Jewish leader of the of upon his later election.

Education and Upbringing

Polanski was born David Paulden in 1982 to a Jewish family of Latvian origin that had fled pogroms in the early , anglicizing their surname upon arrival in the to evade . He grew up in , , as the middle child of five siblings from parents who separated early in his life, within a traditional Jewish cultural milieu amid the socioeconomic challenges of in the 1980s and 1990s. His early education included attendance at a Jewish in , followed by King David School, before transitioning to , a fee-paying independent institution, on a . Polanski later described disliking the environment at Grammar, from which he was expelled, prompting a move to Cheadle and Marple (also known as Ridge Danyers College) for A-levels from 1997 to 1999. He pursued higher education in drama at (Prifysgol Aberystwyth) in from 2003 to 2005, focusing on acting without completing a specified degree. This period marked his initial formal engagement with performance arts, though subsequent training occurred abroad at a drama school in Atlanta, Georgia, .

Pre-Political Career

Acting and Entertainment

Zack Polanski pursued following his education in drama, including studies at the , , and graduation from a in Georgia, . Early in his career, he performed in regular theatre productions at the Unity Theatre in and starred in several short films there before relocating to to advance his pursuits. In film, Polanski appeared in Art of Suicide (2007), Seven Crosses (2008), and Bashment (2011), roles that marked his entry into screen during the late 2000s. These credits involved minor parts in independent productions, reflecting the challenges of breaking into competitive sectors where public skills, such as articulation and , develop through iterative on-set and experiences. Polanski later engaged in theatre, working with the immersive company DifferencENGINE on productions emphasizing . His focus shifted toward community-oriented , including "Theatre of the Oppressed" methods aimed at amplifying marginalized voices through participatory performances. This phase honed transferable abilities in and narrative delivery, grounded in the practical demands of live audience interaction, before transitioning to other professional endeavors around the early .

Hypnotherapy and Alternative Practices

Polanski worked as a cognitive in during the early 2010s, operating from the Lewis Clinic on and offering sessions for issues including phobias, , and purported physical changes. He promoted as leveraging the mind-body connection to influence outcomes like hair and nail growth, alongside more conventional therapeutic goals. These claims extended to controversial applications, such as using to enlarge women's breasts, which he suggested could occur through subconscious reprogramming of bodily responses. In a 2013 undercover report by The Sun, Polanski offered a female journalist a session priced at £222 to attempt via , asserting potential physical effects despite acknowledging variability in results. No verified client testimonials or controlled outcomes supported these specific interventions; the practice relied on anecdotal assertions rather than empirical measurement. Polanski trained in cognitive hypnotherapy methods, later co-training others in the field, but no formal regulatory certification details, such as from bodies like the General Hypnotherapy Register, are publicly documented for his practice. Hypnotherapy for structural changes like breast size lacks substantiation in peer-reviewed , as is primarily governed by hormonal, genetic, and nutritional factors unresponsive to hypnotic alone. Controlled studies on show limited efficacy for subjective states like pain or anxiety but no causal mechanism for objective physiological alterations beyond effects. Polanski ceased practice prior to his full entry into around 2016–2017, shifting focus to and counseling amid financial needs from parallel work, without reported complaints to regulatory bodies or ethical inquiries at the time. In September 2025, following renewed scrutiny, he apologized for the breast enlargement claims, stating he no longer endorses such applications and views them as misguided.

Other Professional Ventures

Polanski engaged in youth work, supporting marginalized communities through community-based initiatives, as part of his pre-political professional activities. He also served as a counsellor, providing support outside his practice, contributing to his broader experience in counselling roles. Additionally, he held various positions in the sector, which aligned with his overall background in the characterized by short-term, flexible employment. These ventures preceded his formal entry into in 2017 and demonstrated his involvement in service-oriented and community-focused occupations.

Entry into Politics

Initial Political Affiliations

Polanski's initial engagement with party politics began with membership in the Liberal Democrats, a centrist party emphasizing and pro-European Union stances. He became an active member and stood as a candidate for the London Assembly in the 2015 election, opposing the incumbent Labour mayor while aligning with the party's advocacy for and . His motivations for joining included attraction to the Liberal Democrats' positions on issues like remaining in the , evidenced by his vocal intervention during the 2016 Brexit referendum campaign, where, as a party candidate, he heckled Labour leader for perceived ambivalence toward . Polanski left the Liberal Democrats in 2017, stating that he was deeply unhappy with the party's support for measures enacted during its 2010–2015 with the Conservatives, which he viewed as a betrayal of progressive principles. This departure reflected empirical disillusionment with the coalition's fiscal policies, including public spending cuts that disproportionately affected lower-income groups, prompting a search for alternatives further to the left.

Transition to the Green Party

Polanski joined the of in 2017, following prior involvement with the Liberal Democrats. He cited the party's emphasis on addressing inequality, , and amplifying marginalized voices as key alignments, positioning the move as a counter to Labour's shortcomings and the emergence of far-right influences in British politics. In 2018, Polanski assumed the role of treasurer for Jewish Greens, the party's subgroup focused on Jewish members and issues. This position involved managing finances and supporting initiatives within the Jewish community aligned with Green principles, marking his early organizational contributions. His initial activities remained low-profile, centered on local party leadership as chair in Hackney and national-level support for candidates through campaigning, media appearances, and collaboration with activists, unions, and migrant workers. These efforts built networks without immediate pursuit of high-visibility office, reflecting a gradual integration amid critiques of established parties' environmental inaction—such as the Liberal Democrats' coalition-era compromises on measures that undermined progressive economic reforms.

Political Roles and Achievements

London Assembly Membership

Zack Polanski was elected as a member of the on 6 May 2021, representing the party on the London-wide additional member list; the Greens retained their three seats from 2016 amid a turnout of 40.1%. As part of the opposition, Polanski focused on scrutinizing Sadiq Khan's administration, particularly through work and questions on environmental and housing delivery. In housing and energy efficiency, Polanski campaigned against slow progress in London's homes to meet net-zero targets, publishing a 2023 report titled London's 'Retrofit Revolution': What's Going Wrong?, which highlighted that upgrades under schemes like Warmer Homes reached fewer than 1% of eligible homes annually—10 times slower than required for 2030 goals—and noted £1.6 million underspent in one program alongside shortages of trained Retrofit Coordinators (only 16 city-wide). He led a budget-related motion passed unanimously by on 25 January 2024, urging prioritization of retrofit skills training in the Mayor's 2024-25 budget to address workforce gaps and create green jobs, though implementation relies on executive action and has seen limited acceleration per ongoing critiques of underspending. On transport, Polanski interrogated the during Assembly sessions on expanding low-emission measures, supporting (ULEZ) rollout as insufficient alone but advocating complementary road charging to curb emissions and fund sustainable infrastructure; in May 2021 questioning, he pressed for details on commitments to national ministers amid post-pandemic recovery. Outcomes included cross-party motions influencing minor policy tweaks, such as a March 2024 commitment to increased funding for live amid economic pressures, but empirical data shows persistent gaps, with 's transport carbon reductions lagging deeper systemic reforms promised pre-election. Overall, Polanski's interventions yielded unanimous Assembly support for select motions and spotlighted delivery shortfalls—e.g., retrofit training gaps persisting despite advocacy—but measurable impacts remain modest, as the Greens' minority status limits binding influence over the Labour Mayor's priorities, with no independent audits crediting direct causal shifts in or transport metrics beyond rhetorical pressure.

Deputy Leadership

Zack Polanski was elected deputy leader of the Green Party of England and Wales in September 2022, alongside another deputy, under the co-leadership of Carla Denyer and Adrian Ramsay. In this position, he assisted in coordinating party activities, including strategic planning for membership recruitment and electoral campaigns, as the party expanded its presence in local and national politics during 2023 and 2024. Polanski's contributions emphasized bolder outreach and policy articulation to appeal to broader voter bases, reflecting efforts to unify internal factions around growth-oriented objectives amid rising competition from other parties. While the team navigated debates over tactical approaches, such as drawing lessons from populist movements, Polanski focused on enhancing the party's visibility and organizational strength without reported major rifts during his initial tenure.

Leadership of the Green Party

Zack Polanski was elected Leader of the of on 2 September 2025, securing victory in the party's contest against co-leaders Ellie Chowns and . His platform centered on "eco-populism," advocating for direct, unapologetic communication to challenge established political norms and expand the party's reach beyond traditional . In the immediate aftermath, the party saw a rapid membership increase from under 70,000 prior to his election, surpassing 100,000 members by 12 October 2025 and reaching 140,000 by late October, before passing 180,000 by 9 December 2025—more than doubling the base within three months and overtaking the Conservative Party to become the UK's third-largest by membership. This surge coincided with improved polling, including record-high support levels that positioned the Greens as a viable alternative for disaffected voters, evidenced by defections such as Labour councillors joining the party. Polanski's leadership also garnered external recognition, including selection for the TIME100 Next list on 30 September 2025, which spotlighted his potential to influence global discourse on and equity. Strategic adjustments under Polanski included heightened emphasis on wealth taxes as a mechanism, which resonated in surveys showing broad voter appeal among younger demographics and those prioritizing inequality reduction— with internal data indicating up to 70% support in targeted constituencies—yet faced scrutiny over practical implementation amid fiscal constraints and potential risks documented in economic analyses. Party conference addresses in autumn 2025 reinforced these shifts, urging bolder outreach while navigating internal debates on balancing radicalism with electability. Despite gains, challenges persisted in converting membership momentum into parliamentary seats, as historical data from prior surges showed limited translation to national vote shares without sustained organizational reforms.

Policy Positions

Economic Views and Proposals

Polanski advocates for a of 1% on net assets exceeding £10 million and 2% on assets over £1 billion, estimating it would generate £15-25 billion annually to address without primarily funding public spending. He frames this as a "patriotic" measure to end "rip-off Britain," arguing it targets the super-rich to redistribute resources and curb excessive profiteering, rather than burdening workers through taxes. Supporters, including Polanski, contend such taxation could reduce wealth disparities, citing groups like the who endorse higher levies on the affluent as a for societal cohesion. Polanski rejects the conventional analogy likening national economies to household budgets, asserting that governments issuing sovereign currencies face no inherent funding constraints akin to personal finances, a perspective echoing Modern Monetary Theory (MMT) principles. In interviews, he has called for dismantling this "bad metaphor" to enable bolder public investments, positioning it as a away from austerity-driven . This view underpins his broader critique of neoliberal economics, favoring state-led interventions over market reliance for growth and equity. Critics argue Polanski's proposals overlook empirical evidence of behavioral responses to high wealth taxes, such as and investment disincentives observed in jurisdictions like , where a similar levy prompted wealthy individuals to relocate, reducing projected revenues. Analyses from think tanks highlight that even targeting assets above £10 million could erode UK's competitiveness, with historical data from high-tax regimes showing diminished and slower GDP growth due to reduced incentives for accumulation. Polanski dismisses capital exodus concerns as a "myth," but detractors point to verifiable outflows in comparable policies, questioning the feasibility of revenue targets amid global mobility of capital. While proponents envision a transformative reduction in inequality, empirical studies indicate wealth taxes often yield lower-than-expected funds after accounting for evasion and economic distortions.

Environmental and Climate Policies

Zack Polanski has advocated for accelerated as chair of the London Assembly's Environment Committee since 2021, leading investigations into reduction, improvements, climate adaptation strategies, and initiatives. He has pushed the to expedite progress toward net zero emissions by 2030, criticizing delays in implementation despite the city's ambitious target set in 2022, which aims to achieve full decarbonization twenty years ahead of the national timeline. In December 2021, Polanski proposed and secured passage of a motion endorsing the Climate and Ecological Emergency Bill (later reintroduced as the Climate and Nature Bill in October 2024), which seeks legally binding reductions in UK aligned with the , alongside measures to halt biodiversity loss and establish a for policy input. Under his leadership of the , elected on September 2, 2025, Polanski promotes "eco-populism," framing environmental policies as a means to address inequality through taxing extreme wealth to fund green jobs, expanded deployment, and of the to prevent and ensure sustainable management. He has actively opposed new extraction, joining protests on October 18, 2025, against the Rosebank oil field development and urging government investment in renewables over domestic oil drilling. These positions align with the party's broader commitments to a Green New Deal-style transition, emphasizing rapid decarbonization and opposition to nuclear power, though Polanski's public statements prioritize renewables and wealth redistribution to mitigate transition costs for lower-income groups. While Polanski's proposals aim for transformative change, their feasibility is constrained by substantial economic requirements; achieving London's net zero by 2030 could necessitate offsetting residual emissions at costs ranging from £634 million to £4.2 billion annually by that year, amid challenges in scaling intermittent renewables without reliable baseload alternatives like nuclear. UK-wide net zero pathways, which Polanski seeks to advance aggressively, are projected to require average annual investments equivalent to about 0.2% of GDP through 2050, with upfront low-carbon spending scaling to £50 billion yearly post-2030, potentially straining public finances and energy security if global emission reductions lag, as unilateral action risks carbon leakage and limited marginal benefits. Critics, including analyses from the Office for Budget Responsibility, highlight fiscal risks from such accelerated timelines, estimating potential public sector costs in the hundreds of billions without corresponding private sector uptake or technological breakthroughs.

Foreign Policy, Israel, and Antisemitism

Polanski has advocated for the to withdraw from , describing the alliance's structure as outdated and overly influenced by U.S. interests, particularly in light of potential shifts under figures like . He has argued that reform efforts are futile and that the organization's era has ended, though he has specified that exit should not be immediate to allow for alternative European defense arrangements. This stance aligns with broader skepticism toward militaristic alliances, prioritizing and conflict prevention over collective defense commitments. On the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, Polanski has expressed vehement opposition to Israeli government policies, accusing them of committing war crimes and genocide in Gaza. In June 2025, as deputy leader, he described the UK Labour government under Keir Starmer as "active participants" in genocide for continuing arms sales and diplomatic support for Israel, calling for an immediate halt to such exports and recognition of Palestinian statehood. In September 2025, shortly after becoming leader, he demanded the arrest of Israeli President Isaac Herzog during a planned UK visit, citing Herzog's role in a government responsible for alleged atrocities, and criticized the UK for hosting Israel's delegation at the Defense and Security Equipment International (DSEI) arms fair rather than expelling it. The Green Party under his leadership has also urged the BBC to boycott Eurovision coverage if Israel's state broadcaster participates, framing it as complicity in "artwashing" occupation and violence. As a Jewish —one of only five in the last century to lead a major British party—Polanski has repeatedly affirmed his commitment to combating , stating in October 2025 that he takes the issue "really seriously" and has historically pushed for adoption of the (IHRA) definition within the to address internal incidents. Following the October 2023 attacks and subsequent rise in antisemitic incidents, he condemned while distinguishing from Jew-hatred, arguing that equating Gaza protests with antisemitism conflates with state policy and exacerbates insecurity for opposed to those policies. However, critics, including pro-Israel outlets, have questioned the party's tolerance for antisemitism under his leadership, pointing to deputy leader Mothin Ali's controversial remarks—described as inflammatory and minimizing atrocities—as evidence of insufficient safeguards, despite Polanski's defenses that requires opposing both Israeli actions and against . Polanski has countered such critiques by emphasizing proactive party measures against hate, including responses to events like the October 2025 terror attack linked to rising antisemitism.

Controversies and Criticisms

Past Hypnotherapy Practices

Prior to entering politics, Zack Polanski practiced , offering paid sessions focused on , stress reduction, and body image enhancement, with fees around £222 per session. In 2013, he agreed to a session requested by a Sun journalist seeking to increase breast size and boost body confidence, claiming the technique could stimulate physical changes through mental suggestion and visualization, potentially leading to non-surgical enlargement. He described this as an emerging approach with potential mainstream appeal, positioning it as a mind-over-matter alternative to cosmetic procedures. No credible supports hypnotherapy's capacity to induce measurable tissue growth; mammary development is governed by , hormones, and physiological factors, with hypnotic lacking any verified mechanism to alter cellular proliferation or fat deposition in tissue. While small 1970s studies, such as those by Willard (1977) involving 22 volunteers practicing and , reported average circumference increases of about 2 inches correlated with visualization frequency, these lacked rigorous controls, long-term follow-up, and replication, rendering them inconclusive and prone to confounders like weight fluctuations or subjective measurements. Mainstream medical consensus attributes any perceived changes to effects, expectation , or natural variability rather than causal efficacy. These practices resurfaced in media scrutiny in September 2025, shortly after Polanski's election as Green Party leader, prompting critiques of pseudoscientific promotion and ethical lapses in charging for unproven physical outcomes. Polanski issued an apology, stating he no longer endorses claims of physical enlargement via hypnosis, attributing his 2013 stance to an intent to aid confidence rather than literal growth, and disavowing belief in "thinking" breasts larger. He framed the episode as a learning experience from his pre-political career. Offering interventions for somatic changes without empirical backing implicates potential misleading of clients, fostering false hope and diverting resources from validated options like or surgery, while underscoring risks of in therapeutic claims. Endorsing such causal assertions historically, absent rigorous validation, can erode trust in one's discernment of hierarchies, particularly where hinges on verifiable outcomes over anecdotal suggestion.

Economic Policy Critiques

Critics of Zack Polanski's advocacy for a on assets exceeding £10 million, estimated by the to generate £15-25 billion annually, argue that such projections overlook substantial risks of evasion, avoidance, and , which historically diminish actual revenues far below optimistic forecasts. Analyses indicate that implementation could prompt outflows of £200-500 billion in capital, eroding the tax base and yielding net revenues closer to negligible sums after administrative costs and behavioral responses. This distortion penalizes savings and investment, reducing incentives for productive economic activity and potentially stifling growth, as evidenced by the UK's recent fiscal deficit exceeding £100 billion, where even full realization of the proposed yield would cover only a fraction of spending gaps. Historical precedents underscore these concerns, particularly France's Impôt de Solidarité sur la Fortune (ISF), which operated from 1982 until its partial repeal in 2018 and generated revenues equivalent to just 0.2-0.3% of GDP annually—far short of expectations—while driving significant capital flight, with over 60,000 millionaires emigrating and contributing to economic stagnation through reduced investment. Similar outcomes prompted Sweden, Germany, Austria, and Denmark to abandon their wealth taxes in the late 20th and early 21st centuries, citing administrative burdens, valuation disputes on illiquid assets, and net revenue shortfalls after evasion. Polanski's defense, framing the tax as a tool to address "deep inequality" without deterring the ultra-wealthy, contrasts with empirical data showing such levies fail to materially redistribute wealth or fund ambitious public spending, instead fostering dependency on borrowing amid stagnant productivity. Broader critiques target Polanski's emphasis on expansive fiscal outlays—such as and green investments—without corresponding mechanisms to spur private-sector growth, warning that reliance on punitive taxation exacerbates fiscal imbalances rather than resolving them. Proponents within the counter that rejecting enables sustainable investment, yet opponents cite evidence from high-tax regimes where elevated public spending correlates with lower GDP growth rates and higher debt-to-GDP ratios, as seen in post-2008 European economies pursuing similar paths. This approach, dubbed "eco-populism" by detractors, risks perpetuating "empty promises" by promising transformative funding streams that empirical models predict will underperform, ultimately burdening future generations with inflated borrowing costs absent structural reforms for competitiveness.

Political Stances and Internal Party Issues

Polanski joined the Liberal Democrats in 2016 before defecting to the in 2017, a rapid shift that prompted accusations of political opportunism from critics who portrayed it as a strategic move rather than ideological conviction. Such claims were amplified by Liberal Democrat commentators, who highlighted the lack of emphasis on environmental priorities in Polanski's initial communications as , interpreting it as evidence of diluted commitment to core Green tenets amid a pivot toward broader "eco-populism." Within the Green Party, Polanski's leadership has intersected with persistent internal tensions over , particularly tied to the party's and advocacy for Palestinian state recognition. As a Jewish , Polanski has publicly stressed the need to address rising , including in response to events like the October 2025 Manchester synagogue attack, while defending the party's positions against what he views as conflations of with prejudice. However, these stances have fueled debates, exemplified by 2018 conference disputes over an emergency motion on that allocated limited debate time amid heightened concerns, leading to accusations of inadequate handling. Further strains emerged in 2025 when Polanski faced scrutiny over deputy leader Mothin Ali's remarks minimizing the , 2023, attacks, prompting internal questions about senior members' statements and the party's broader record on . External watchdogs, including the , have labeled the Greens a potential "hub" for in politics, citing unresolved ideological frictions that Polanski's defenses have not fully quelled, contributing to perceptions of fractured party coherence on foreign policy-related issues. During the 2025 leadership contest, Polanski's campaign emphasized transformative "eco-populism" over co-leadership continuity, winning in a against challengers like Ellie Chowns and , but this victory masked underlying divisions on strategic direction, with some members wary of alienating traditional environmental focus for populist appeals. These dynamics have empirically tested party unity, as evidenced by membership growth exceeding 140,000 amid Polanski's tenure—doubling from prior levels—yet accompanied by heightened media and internal scrutiny over ideological consistency. In January 2026, amid debates on immigration policies, Polanski accused Reform UK leader Nigel Farage of planning to introduce American-style "death squads" modeled on U.S. ICE enforcement associated with Donald Trump to deport people, exemplifying his rhetorical opposition to Reform UK policies. He stated on social media: "Farage wants to bring Trump’s death squads to the streets of Britain. Together, we will stop him," in reference to Reform's proposed "UK Deportation Command." The statement drew backlash, with Farage dismissing Polanski as "a lunatic."

Reception and Impact

Public and Media Reception

Zack Polanski's ascension to leadership in September 2025 elicited predominantly positive coverage in left-leaning media outlets, which highlighted his potential to revitalize amid dissatisfaction with Labour. described his approach as offering "hope for a new kind of " and focusing on unifying issues like wealth taxation, portraying him as a counter to national despair. Similarly, outlets like The Canary credited him with demonstrating "the real politics of hope" at public events, such as a sold-out meeting in on October 26, 2025. Polling data indicates growing voter appeal, particularly among younger demographics, though membership surges do not always correlate with proportional electoral turnout given the party's historical vote shares below 5% in national elections. A October 2025 survey showed the Greens leading with 32% support among 18-24-year-olds, 18% among 25-49-year-olds, and 16% among 2024 Labour voters, coinciding with party membership doubling to over 140,000 within weeks of his election. analysis noted this momentum but questioned its translation into broader power, citing visibility gains yet persistent challenges in voter conversion. Right-leaning and skeptical commentators have dismissed Polanski as promoting unfeasible "eco-populism," with labeling his pledges "empty promises" amid Labour's polling decline. In January 2026, during a press conference critiquing Green Party policies, Reform UK leader Nigel Farage described Polanski as a "lunatic" who "appeared out of nowhere," while Polanski responded that the record of Brexit obviated the need for name-calling; this exchange followed prior debates, including Polanski's appearance on BBC Question Time with Reform UK's Zia Yusuf. Coverage in conservative-leaning press often frames his rise as a symptom of left-wing disarray rather than viable alternative, prompting Polanski to publicly embrace the as inadvertently boosting his profile. This polarization reflects broader media divides, where progressive sources amplify enthusiasm for his outsider appeal while outlets wary of emphasize economic risks, though empirical membership metrics substantiate short-term organizational gains under his tenure.

Influence on UK Politics

Polanski's ascension to leadership on September 2, 2025, with an 85% vote share has driven a rapid expansion in party membership, surpassing 130,000 by October 2025 and overtaking the Conservatives to rank as the 's third-largest party by this metric. This surge, fueled by his emphasis on bold left-wing policies, has positioned the Greens as a challenger to Labour from the left, particularly among disaffected voters frustrated with the government's fiscal restraint. Recent polls reflect this momentum, with the party polling at 15% overall—more than double prior levels—and leading at 32% among 18- to 24-year-olds, alongside 18% support from 25- to 49-year-olds and 16% from 2024 Labour voters. His advocacy has elevated specific debates, notably on wealth taxation, where proposals for an annual levy on assets of the richest 1% have compelled responses from mainstream outlets and figures, framing it as a tool against inequality despite lacking robust evidence of net gains without capital outflows. In urban strongholds like , the Greens under Polanski have drawn Labour defectors, including councillors, signaling localized pressure on Labour's hold and potential vote-splitting in cosmopolitan constituencies. Recognition as one of Time magazine's 100 Next influential leaders underscores perceptions of his role in reshaping left-of-centre dynamics, akin to how prior Green surges amplified environmental and redistributive issues without proportional electoral breakthroughs. Empirically, however, the party's influence remains constrained by marginal parliamentary presence—four MPs post-2024 election—and historical patterns where membership booms, as in , yielded limited seats despite heightened visibility. Analysts view Polanski as a potential "" for injecting disruption into politics, yet sustained impact hinges on converting rhetorical momentum into policy realism; unchecked adoption of expansive fiscal measures risks economic deterrence, as evidenced by international precedents of reversals due to and investment flight. This positions the Greens under his lead as a discourse-shaper rather than a dominant force, with broader effects likely confined to pressuring Labour's left flank amid Reform 's rightward pull.

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