Green Party leader Zack Polanski has declared he is "not concerned" that his controversial past claim about being able to enlarge women's breasts through hypnosis will damage his party's electoral prospects. The statement came as he delivered his first major speech on the economy, outlining a series of ambitious fiscal policies and reaffirming his commitment to taking Britain back into the European Union if the Greens enter government.
Economic Vision and Fiscal Pledges
In a comprehensive address to the traditionally Labour-aligned New Economics Foundation, Polanski positioned himself as a "pragmatist not an ideologue," arguing that the Greens can no longer be dismissed as "on the fringes" of British politics. He unveiled a blizzard of fiscal giveaways totalling £8.4 billion aimed at bringing down energy bills for households across the nation.
The Green leader's economic proposals include ending the right-to-buy scheme for council homes, introducing comprehensive rent controls, and renationalising Britain's utilities. Speaking at a garden centre in north London, Polanski railed against what he termed "rip-off Britain" and called for immediate government intervention to protect consumers from soaring energy costs.
Funding Mechanisms and Wealth Tax
Polanski detailed how his party would fund these economic offerings through "strengthening" the windfall tax on oil and gas companies and equalising capital gains tax with income tax. Most notably, he outlined plans for a "day one" wealth tax that would impose a 1 percent levy on wealth over £10 million and 2 percent on wealth exceeding £1 billion.
"For a truly progressive government a wealth tax should be a day one priority," Polanski asserted, while conceding that such a measure "won't fix everything" but represents "a good place to start" in ensuring "the super-rich pay their share."
Controversial Past and Polling Impact
The economic proposals were delivered against the backdrop of renewed scrutiny over Polanski's 2013 claims while working as a Harley Street hypnotherapist, when he suggested he could help women increase their bust size through hypnosis alone. Online commentators have since nicknamed him "the boob whisperer" over the remarks.
Recent polling from More in Common revealed that while 33 percent of voters would consider backing the Greens, this figure plummeted to just 16 percent when respondents were informed about Polanski's breast enlargement claims. When questioned about this significant polling drop, Polanski offered a fresh apology while maintaining his lack of concern.
"I'm not concerned because the public recognise it was 13 years ago, I've made a mistake and apologised," Polanski stated. He pointed to his electoral record, noting: "We've tripled in the polls, we've tripled in membership, we've made a lot more fundraising than we've ever had before, and I'm one-for-one in parliamentary by-elections."
European Union and Broader Policy Positions
In his wide-ranging speech, Polanski made clear his intention to pursue British re-entry into the European Union, stating: "I do want to see us rejoin the European Union. I think we're much better building our relationships with our European neighbours, including rejoining the Customs Union."
The Green leader also suggested openness to wiping all student debt and criticised what he described as the "bond market doom loop" created by "decades of fiscal tightening" that have resulted in "stretched services and people suffering." He argued that successive governments have been constrained by "an economics that denies people the services they require" to placate "arbitrary rules."
Political Reactions and Criticism
The TaxPayers' Alliance responded forcefully to Polanski's economic proposals, accusing him of being "little better than a con artist" and warning that "politicians need to resist the superficial appeal of Polanski's empty soundbites."
Tory shadow chancellor Mel Stride was equally critical, stating: "Zack Polanski is a man who believes he can just keep shaking the magic money tree, with no consequences whatsoever."
Labour chair Anna Turley joined the criticism, asserting that Polanski had "the wrong answers" on the economy and citing "respected economists" who have "sounded the alarm over the Greens' 'catastrophic' plans to print money, which would hammer working people and their living standards."
Despite the controversy surrounding his past claims and the criticism of his economic policies, Polanski remains defiant, pointing to his party's growth since his election six months ago and maintaining that voters will judge him on his current proposals rather than decade-old statements.
