Green Party surges past 80,000 members under Zack Polanski’s bold, populist leadership

Since Zack Polanski took the helm less than a month ago, the Green Party of England and Wales has experienced a dramatic membership boost and shifted towards a more confrontational, eco-populist stance, signalling a potential upheaval in UK political dynamics.

In just under a month since Zack Polanski assumed leadership of the Green Party of England and Wales, the party has witnessed a remarkable transformation. Once dismissed as merely idealistic eco-warriors, the Greens have surged past 80,000 members, making them the largest they have ever been. This surge in support follows Polanski’s bold positioning of the party as an “eco-populist” force willing to “pick fights” and challenge complacency in UK politics, a shift that marks a break from the Greens’ traditionally cautious approach.

Polanski, elected leader in early September 2025, swiftly articulated a vision focused on confronting pressing issues like spiralling rents, energy bills, and growing inequality. His leadership style, characterised by a willingness to court controversy, was evident in his defence of deputy Mothin Ali during a contentious interview on BBC Radio 4’s Today programme. Polanski’s combative approach has resonated internally, with deputy co-leader Rachel Millward asserting that boldness is essential to harnessing public disillusionment and countering the rise of right-wing populism. Millward highlighted the party’s readiness to be “as big as you can go” in tone and messaging, aiming to provide honest, real politics that voters crave.

The leadership team is recalibrating electoral strategies to reflect this dynamic new approach. Chris Williams, the Green Party’s head of elections, reflected on last year’s best-ever general election performance, which secured four MP seats through targeted campaigns in traditionally Conservative and Labour heartlands. Now, under Polanski’s leadership, the party embraces a strategy designed to excite and provoke rather than avoid conflict. Williams points to the UK’s shifting political landscape, where smaller vote shares—such as the 27% winning margins in recent by-elections—make it more feasible to capture seats, especially in urban areas where traditional parties are losing ground rapidly. The Greens have identified numerous “development constituencies” primarily in urban centres as their new targets, reflecting a subtle shift from their rural base.

However, this strategic pivot carries risks. Some members caution that moving focus away from localised campaigning may alienate voters who helped deliver recent breakthrough wins, especially in more rural seats held by MPs Adrian Ramsay and Ellie Chowns. Ramsay and Chowns, who previously contested leadership against Polanski, secured only 16% of the vote, underscoring ideological divisions. Yet, Millward, with her grassroots experience in the rural Wealden District Council, remains confident that rural voting support is growing alongside urban enthusiasm.

Politically, the Greens are closely watching Reform UK, Nigel Farage’s populist party, as a case study in converting media attention into electoral success. While ideologically opposed, Greens members admire Reform UK’s simple, emotionally resonant messaging and willingness to provoke, seeing a potential model to emulate but grounded in a “politics of hope,” as Polanski put it in his conference speech. This move towards more assertive, populist rhetoric seeks to fill the vacuum of voter discontent traditionally exploited by right-wing forces.

Yet the Greens are not uncontested in the expanding space on the left. The emergence of “Your Party,” a new political movement led by prominent ex-Labour figures Jeremy Corbyn and Zarah Sultana, threatens to draw away potential supporters. Despite this, Millward sees the gains in Green membership and enthusiasm as evidence of Labour’s fracturing rather than a loss to the left overall.

Scaling from grassroots activism to a serious electoral force inevitably hinges on financing. The party, historically reliant on volunteer labour and small donations, is pushing for a bolder fundraising approach under Polanski. Millward advocates for a “party of fivers,” inspired by the US micro-donation campaigns of Barack Obama and Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, while also encouraging the pursuit of natural donors eager for change, albeit wary of “corruptive billionaires.” This shift acknowledges the crucial role financial resources will play in future campaigns.

The real test for Polanski’s Green Party lies in the 2026 local elections. The party aims to hold a record 900 council seats and make inroads into combined authority contests in Sussex, Norfolk, and Suffolk. They also have high hopes of capitalising on the new proportional representation voting system in Wales to increase their presence in the Senedd. However, the fractured multi-party system in England and Wales, dominated by first-past-the-post voting, continues to produce unpredictable outcomes.

Polanski and his leadership team clearly believe they have found a winning formula to convert their momentum into tangible political power. Whether voters reward their combative, hopeful stance with electoral success or turn away remains to be seen, but the Greens are poised to be a significant force in the UK’s evolving political landscape.

📌 Reference Map:

Source: Noah Wire Services

Noah Fact Check Pro

The draft above was created using the information available at the time the story first
emerged. We’ve since applied our fact-checking process to the final narrative, based on the criteria listed
below. The results are intended to help you assess the credibility of the piece and highlight any areas that may
warrant further investigation.

Freshness check

Score:
9

Notes:
The narrative presents recent developments, including Zack Polanski’s election as leader on 2 September 2025 and the Green Party’s membership surpassing 80,000 members by 28 September 2025. ([greenparty.org.uk](https://greenparty.org.uk/2025/09/02/zack-polanski-elected-leader-of-the-green-party-of-england-and-wales-promising-to-create-a-country-where-no-one-is-left-behind/?utm_source=openai)) The article includes updated data but recycles older material, which may justify a higher freshness score but should still be flagged. The content is original and not republished across low-quality sites or clickbait networks. The narrative is based on a press release, which typically warrants a high freshness score. No discrepancies in figures, dates, or quotes were found. No similar content appeared more than 7 days earlier. The article includes updated data but recycles older material, which may justify a higher freshness score but should still be flagged.

Quotes check

Score:
10

Notes:
The direct quotes from Zack Polanski and Rachel Millward are unique to this narrative, with no identical matches found in earlier material. This suggests potentially original or exclusive content.

Source reliability

Score:
10

Notes:
The narrative originates from the BBC, a reputable organisation, which strengthens its reliability.

Plausability check

Score:
9

Notes:
The claims about the Green Party’s membership surge and strategic shifts under Polanski’s leadership are plausible and align with recent reports. The narrative lacks supporting detail from other reputable outlets, which is flagged as a concern. The report includes specific factual anchors, such as names, institutions, and dates, enhancing its credibility. The language and tone are consistent with UK political reporting. The structure is focused and relevant, without excessive or off-topic detail. The tone is appropriately formal and consistent with corporate or official language.

Overall assessment

Verdict (FAIL, OPEN, PASS): PASS

Confidence (LOW, MEDIUM, HIGH): HIGH

Summary:
The narrative is fresh, original, and sourced from a reputable organisation. While it lacks supporting detail from other reputable outlets, the specific factual anchors and consistent tone support its credibility.