The Green Party leader Zack Polanski is facing mounting pressure as internal divisions deepen and Labour eyes a crucial by-election victory, with his leadership potentially on the line.
Members may have cemented Polanski's future during a crunch vote on Sunday, but it could be just a matter of time until the man who helped resurrect the party is ousted as its leader, triggering a snap General Election within months.
Absent from controversial vote
Hypnotherapist Polanski was nowhere to be seen when members voted to declare that “Zionism is racism” at the party's conference in Birmingham. He was instead likely campaigning on the doorsteps of Holborn and St Pancras, where he is standing in the race to replace Keir Starmer as an MP after Starmer quit.
As things stand, pollsters have broadly forecast that Labour will win the by-election, which would be a welcome boost for Prime Minister Andy Burnham, who is looking for proof he can take on the Greens and win.
Infighting and splits
A bruising by-election defeat for Polanski, who could not even turn up for a controversial vote at his own party's conference, could lead to him getting turfed out as leader. This comes on the back of his battle against a plunge in popularity and a dip in the polls.
Insiders also believe that the Greens have been marred by infighting, with huge splits over its approach to the Middle East, the environment (or lack thereof) and support for trans people. The friction centres on the interaction between its traditional, socially progressive platform and its surging support among pro-Palestine and Muslim voters.
Potential snap election
The internal chaos could see Labour have a surge in the polls and potentially embolden Burnham to call a snap General Election. The Prime Minister is on Monday gathering his top team at his grace and favour pad of Chequers, in Buckinghamshire.
He could be putting his troops on a war footing ahead of a national vote in spring. The Makerfield by-election earlier this year was dubbed one of the most consequential of British political history. But the one coming up on Thursday in London is certainly one to watch as it could be the first domino to fall in the race to a General Election.
