Green Party leader Zack Polanski has visited Clacton-on-Sea, the constituency of Reform UK leader Nigel Farage, as part of a social media strategy to counter what he describes as 'far right-adjacent' politics. Polanski, who won the leadership of the Greens in England and Wales with 85% of the vote, spent a day talking to voters about Farage's policies, including zero-hours contracts and fire-and-rehire practices.
During the visit, some self-identified Farage supporters expressed surprise at his stance on these issues. One voter, Stuart, said he was unaware of Farage's support for such policies and declared he would not vote for him again. However, others remained supportive, describing Farage as a 'showman' while expressing sympathy for Green policies on the environment and equality, albeit with reservations about their feasibility.
Polanski criticised Labour and Prime Minister Keir Starmer for failing to challenge Reform's rhetoric on immigration, accusing them of implicitly condoning it. He argued that the Greens are the only mainstream party seriously opposing a potential Farage-led government. Polanski's media strategy includes a podcast series, 'Bold Politics with Zack Polanski', which has reached fourth in the UK news podcast charts.
The Green leader acknowledged the challenge of countering what he called 'sheer repetition and emotive storytelling' from Farage, particularly on issues like small boats. He emphasised the importance of local wins and community organising to demonstrate that politics can work, contrasting his approach with Farage's criticism of democratic institutions.
