New Green leader Polanski vows to 'replace' Starmer's Labour

Zack Polanski has been elected leader of the Green Party of England and Wales by a landslide, signalling a clear shift to the left for the party.

The London Assembly member beat Green MPs Adrian Ramsay and Ellie Chowns, who were standing on a joint ticket, by 20,411 votes to 3,705.

In his victory speech, Polanski promised to build a "green left" to take on Labour, telling Sir Keir Starmer's party: "We are here to replace you."

His election potentially opens the door to cooperation with the new left-wing party being set up by former Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn and ex-Labour MP Zarah Sultana.

Polanski, a former actor who was the party's deputy leader, campaigned on an "eco-populism" platform and has promised to make the party "bolder" and more radical in its approach.

In his victory speech, he said: "If you're feeling hopeless, if you're feeling in despair, if you're feeling politically homeless, there is a political home for you.

"And I promise you, nothing will make you feel more inspired, more ready to get out there and more like we can turn our country around than joining the Green Party."

Asked about a possible collaboration with Corbyn's new left-wing party, he said it was "too soon to talk about joining electoral coalitions", but he was interested in working with "anyone who wants to challenge a failing Labour government and take on fascism and the far right".

He added that he was "watching the situation very closely" and would work with Corbyn on policy and initiatives such as a Gaza inquiry being set up by the former Labour leader but his immediate focus was on growing the Green Party.

In a post on X, Corbyn congratulated Polanski on a "stunning victory".

He added: "Real change is coming. I look forward to working with you to create a fairer, kinder world."

Polanski said his aim was to get "at least 30 MPs at the next election" - and ruled out a coalition with Sir Keir's Labour Party.

"In Keir Starmer we've seen someone who got elected on the coattails of Jeremy Corbyn, who made lots of promises to protect communities, to bring about a left-wing change in this country, to stand up for some of the poorest communities," he said.

"And what we've had in Keir Starmer is despicable in terms of the politics. It is someone who has sold those communities out. He's not just sold his party out, and the people who voted for him."

Unusually among political parties, Green leaders only communicate the policies which are voted on and decided by the membership.

Polanski appeared to briefly venture beyond that mandate during the campaign, when he suggested the UK should consider leaving the North Atlantic Treaty Organisation (Nato) and move closer to European allies on defence.

When asked if he stood by these comments following his win, Polanski said he was not against the current policy, but added that things have changed with Donald Trump's second presidential term.

"Donald Trump is absolutely out of control and he is threatening to annexe Greenland, so I think... we need to stop relying on that special relationship," he said.

Polanski also turned his fire on Nigel Farage's Reform UK, branding them "charlatans" and insisted the Greens were the real patriots because they welcomed asylum seekers through safe and legal routes.

"This country needs immigration," he told cheering supporters.

The party said its membership had reached a record high of 68,500 during the leadership campaign, following an influx of new members.

During a sometimes fractious campaign, Ramsay and Chowns, who were elected in parts of the country that had traditionally voted Tory, had accused Polanski of risking the party's electoral gains with a "polarising, strident" approach.

Polanski paid tribute to his defeated rivals in his victory speech, and the other Green MPs, describing himself as "standing on the shoulders of giants".

In a joint statement, Ramsay and Chowns congratulated Polanski on his victory.

"As MPs, we are fully committed to our crucial role: holding this government to account and championing the policies needed for a fairer, greener and more liveable future," they said.

The party's four MPs will now have to elect one of their number to lead the party in the Commons, as Polanski takes over control of the party as a whole.

Labour pointed to Polanski's previous call for the UK to consider leaving the Nato military alliance, as the party congratulated him on his victory in the leadership race.

Labour Party chairwoman Ellie Reeves said: "We are living through serious times and the public rightly expect responsible and measured responses from all political leaders.

"Zack Polanski must level with the British people as to whether he stands by his recent failure to support continued Nato membership, and what it means for his party's stance on Putin's appalling illegal war in Ukraine.

"The Labour government's commitment to Nato membership is unshakeable and always will be."

Unlike other parties, the Greens normally hold leadership elections every two years.

This year's contest was due to have been held in 2024, after Ramsay and his co-leader Carla Denyer were elected for an extraordinary three-year term in 2021, but the poll was delayed in order to avoid a clash with the general election.

Denyer decided not to stand for re-election in May this year.

The Greens had record success at the general election last summer, going from one to four seats in Parliament and overturning large Labour and Conservative majorities.

Together with the Scottish Greens and the Green Party of Northern Ireland, they won 6.7% of the vote.