Green Party aims for historic mayoral victory in Greater Manchester
Green Party leader Zack Polanski has declared that the party's triumph in Gorton and Denton is “not the end of the story” as he eyes further success at this month’s Greater Manchester mayoral election. The Greens hope local councillor Geraldine Coggins will pull off another historic win.
By-election success sets stage
Plumber Hannah Spencer overturned a Labour majority of 13,000 to become the constituency MP in a February by-election. Polanski said many underestimated the Greens, but they won with a “seismic majority.” He added, “I’m also clear though that was the beginning of the story and not the end of the story.”
Challenge ahead
In 2024, Andy Burnham retained the mayoralty with a nearly two-thirds majority and a winning margin of more than 350,000 votes. Speaking at the Green Party’s campaign manifesto launch in Hulme, Manchester, on Thursday, Polanski acknowledged the size of the challenge: “It is a huge task and I don’t think there’s any point in pretending otherwise.” He noted that members and activists are out every day leafleting and door knocking.
Manifesto pledges
Other manifesto pledges include free bus travel for the under-22s and revitalising high streets. Polanski said, “In so many places, in the 10 boroughs across Manchester, it just feels like places are hollowed out. There’s nothing really happening and very often people don’t even know who owns the empty shops.” He added that Coggins is proposing an “empty shops team” to identify owners and encourage use for public good or community purpose.
Polanski’s vision
Polanski expressed confidence that on July 30, Greater Manchester could have a Green mayor who fights for affordability, removes big money from politics, and serves people and planet rather than private profit. “Ultimately our communities have had their wealth extracted to property developer companies, and what Geraldine is talking about is keeping that wealth in the community,” he said.
