Zack Polanski, the newly elected leader of the Green Party in England and Wales, has distanced himself from any electoral pact with Jeremy Corbyn's planned new party, saying he would need to see 'very strong arguments' before agreeing a deal. Polanski won 85% of member votes, defeating the joint ticket of Adrian Ramsay and Ellie Chowns.
Speaking after his victory, Polanski said it was too early to discuss standing down candidates in favour of Corbyn and former Labour MP Zarah Sultana. He stressed that the Greens' programme would be more radical and that any formal pact would require compelling justification. Cooperation over target seats was a more likely outcome.
Polanski rejected the idea that the left of British politics was overcrowded, arguing that more left-wing voices were beneficial. He criticised Labour leader Keir Starmer for not condemning Nigel Farage's 'toxic tirade' on immigration, and said the Greens aimed to replace Labour, not support a Starmer government.
Polanski promised to emulate Nigel Farage's media tactics, calling him a 'charlatan', and urged the Greens to target over 30 seats at the next election. He appealed to voters feeling 'politically homeless' to join the party.
Corbyn congratulated Polanski on X, saying he looked forward to working with him. Labour chair Ellie Reeves also congratulated Polanski but challenged him to clarify his stance on Nato, after he suggested during the campaign that US leadership under Donald Trump made the alliance unfeasible. Polanski clarified he did not advocate immediate UK withdrawal, only if an alternative European defence alliance could be established.
