Zack Polanski and Caroline Lucas, current and former leaders of the Green Party, have called on their party to engage with the concerns of Reform UK voters as a means of addressing inequality. Speaking at a Compass conference in east London, Polanski emphasised the need to distinguish between Reform's leadership and its voters, whom he described as 'left behind' by austerity and successive governments.
Polanski argued that many Reform supporters are affected by the cost of living crisis and feel ignored by politicians. He stated, 'The problem is not someone fleeing for their lives by small boat; the problem is flying above our head by private jet.' Lucas echoed this sentiment, noting that Reform voters' concerns are 'perfectly legitimate' even if their proposed solutions differ from Green policies.
Lucas also commented on the upcoming Makerfield by-election, where Labour's Andy Burnham faces a strong Reform challenge. She expressed support for electoral reform and proportional representation, which the Greens have long advocated, describing it as 'the only way to fix Britain's democracy once and for all.'
