Green Party leader Zack Polanski has delivered his first conference speech as leader, pledging to make sure the very wealthiest pay more tax
He begins his speech in Bournemouth by saying the UK has been failed by a "political class poisoned by extreme wealth"
Polanski also pledges to "end rip off Britain", after winning the party leadership election last month
The London Assembly member has had an unconventional path to politics - read more on that here
Zack Polanski: 'We will make sure that the very wealthiest pay more tax'
Zack Polanski is about to begin his keynote speech at the Green Party conference in Bournemouth.
We'll be keeping across the key lines from him and will be sharing updates and analysis from our reporters in the room - follow along by tapping watch live above.
Jack Fenwick
Political correspondent, reporting from the conference
Zack Polanski is expected to use part of his speech later to address the attack on the Heaton Park synagogue yesterday.
He grew up in the Jewish community in Manchester and has said the “horrific attack feels deeply personal for me”.
When he was 18 he changed his name from David Paulden, partly to embrace the identity erased by his family’s anglicised surname.
Polanski said this morning that the attack was “a sad reflection of the growing antisemitism we’ve witnessed for several years”.
He also spoke about the importance of interfaith work and bringing together different ethnicities, religions, and communities. I’d expect him to make similar comments this afternoon.
Jack Fenwick
Political correspondent, reporting from the conference
Image source, PA MediaWhen he addresses Green Party members in Bournemouth later, Zack Polanski will accuse Labour of failing to offer an alternative to what he says are the “hateful, divisive politics” of Reform UK.
The self-proclaimed "eco-populist" has appeared to be pitching himself as something of a left-wing Nigel Farage and previously told the BBC that the Reform UK leader’s storytelling skills could be harnessed.
But I’m told that since watching the conference speeches of Sir Ed Davey and Sir Keir Starmer – in which Farage featured heavily - Zack Polanski has instead decided not to mention the Reform leader that much.
I understand that much of his speech will focus on the cost of living and his call for a wealth tax – rather than traditional green issues such as climate change and environmentalism.
But don’t expect many policy announcements – either in today’s speech, or throughout the conference. Polanski has only been the leader for a month and at this stage he’s keen to focus more on making the party punchier in its political messaging.
Jennifer McKiernan
Political reporter
Image source, PA MediaThe new leader of the Green Party of England and Wales has had an unconventional path to politics, previously working as an actor, hypnotherapist and mental health counsellor.
Zack Polanski, 42, stormed to victory in the Green Party leadership election last month on a platform promising bold communication and "eco-populism".
A London Assembly member, he beat Green MPs Adrian Ramsay and Ellie Chowns - who were standing on a joint ticket - by 20,411 votes to 3,705.
He says his aim is to get "at least 30 MPs at the next election" - and has ruled out a coalition with Keir Starmer's Labour Party.
Polanski’s first foray into politics was joining the Liberal Democrats, a party he now criticises as being insufficiently left-wing.
He joined the Greens in 2017, working as a local party chairman, before getting elected to City Hall in 2021 and becoming the party's deputy leader in 2022.
Green Party leader Zack Polanski will shortly address his party's members on the opening day of its conference in Bournemouth.
It will mark his first leader's speech since he was elected last month in a landslide victory over Green MPs Adrian Ramsay and Ellie Chowns, who were standing on a joint ticket.
Polanski is expected to say that Labour are too influenced by Reform UK, and call for a tax on the assets of the wealthiest 1% of people in an aim to reduce inequality.
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."
The London Assembly member, 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.
Our teams here in London and Bournemouth are poised to bring you the latest updates and analysis on his speech, which you'll also be able to watch live from 13:45 BST right here.