Boss of British Greens plots review to junk unpopular policies

19 hours ago 3

LONDON — Zack Polanski’s Green Party will conduct a sweeping review of its policy platform to weed out unpopular proposals thrust into the spotlight as support for the movement grows.

The “eco-populist” leader told POLITICO he is looking to revise the party’s democratized — but at times chaotic and unwieldy — system which lets members set the policy agenda.

The Greens have for years ticked along in the undergrowth of British politics with a focus on environmental issues, but under Polanski’s leadership are now presenting themselves as a swashbuckling progressive alternative to the left of Keir Starmer’s ruling Labour Party.

But Polanski’s success means newfound scrutiny of the Greens’ policy archive, and advisers now want to revisit controversial proposals to abolish the monarchy, outlaw private landlords and slash the motorway speed limit to 55mph.

They are also wary of the return of a “Zionism is Racism” motion that only avoided debate during the party’s spring conference in March because of tech issues and a series of no confidence motions.

Polanski told POLITICO he is supporting party efforts to make the policymaking process more “streamlined” and less “Byzantine”— though he stressed he wants to keep the highly-democratic model at the party’s core.

“Our policy making process came about when we had something like 20,000 members. We just hit 226,000, so in terms of how the conference process works, I think the obvious place I would start is — it’s not working as well as it should at the moment,” he said.

Individuals “elected by the membership” would have more control over the process, he suggested, rather than the leadership having a greater say.

The party’s poll ratings have steadily improved since Polanski took the reins in September, and it won its first ever parliamentary by-election in February, taking Gorton and Denton from the ruling Labour Party.

The party is now in the fight for second place behind Nigel Farage’s Reform UK, according to POLITICO’s poll of polls.

Daily Mail fodder

The Greens’ existing policy platform has been formed over the years by members at their annual conference, with policies still on the books from when it had a far smaller following. The party’s next conference will be held in October.

Three party officials told POLITICO they are preparing for a trawl through the party’s entire archive, with certain policies which risk going down poorly with the broader electorate now being considered for the scrap heap.

The Greens have already ditched a controversial push to promote what they deemed “normal” births, and to reduce the rate of Caesarean sections.

“Right now it’s like we’ve got a list of policies for the Daily Mail to ring us up about,” one party official said, referencing the influential conservative mid-market tabloid newspaper. Like others in this piece, they were granted anonymity to talk about internal party matters.

“It’s basically peace and goodwill and brotherhood for all men,” they added about elements of the current slate. “That is all well and good, but it’s not a policy platform for government.”

That official, and a second official, said one area earmarked for review is their migration policy, which they acknowledged causes real issues on the doorstep. The Greens’ policy principles state the party “wants to see a world without borders,” even if it would implement a “fair and humane system of managed immigration” before then.

In an interview with POLITICO earlier this month Polanski hinted at his frustration that voters appear to believe his party would throw open Britain’s borders.

The Green leader recounted a conversation in the seaside town of Margate with a man who requested a selfie and claimed to be receptive to large swathes of the Greens’ offering, but was not in favor of its approach on drugs and immigration.

Polanski stressed that the Greens have “never called for open borders in the manifesto.” But that distinction is lost when it comes to rivals’ attacks on the party.

Here to stay

Officials insist they won’t bow to pressure on certain policies that generate difficult headlines — though they still hope to refine some aspects of their agenda.

The Green policy to legalize and regulate drugs — a stance Starmer has repeatedly highlighted and criticized — is still strongly supported by the leadership, the second official indicated.

The first official said there is scope to refine Polanski’s opposition to NATO, and improve the way the party communicates its support for the decriminalization of sex work.

The root and branch review echoes efforts by the populist right-wing Reform UK leader Nigel Farage to moderate his party’s policy platform as he inches closer to power. He scrapped the entirety of his 2024 election manifesto last November.