DossierPoliticsUnited KingdomUpdated October 17, 2026

Zack Polanski

Zack Polanski

Zack Polanski is a British politician who has been leader of the Green Party of England and Wales since September 2025 and a member of the London Assembly since May 2021. He was born David Paulden in Salford, Greater Manchester, on 2 November 1982. Before entering politics he worked in the gig economy, as an actor, as a youth worker and in the hospitality sector. He identifies as Jewish and has said he was proud to stand as a Jewish party leader. As leader he has set out an economic agenda including rent controls, water renationalisation and renewable energy investment. He has proposed changing the party's internal democratic mechanisms to give the leader greater control over strategic direction.

Country
United Kingdom
Field
Politics
Leaning
Left
Fact checks
1

Political leaning

Far leftLeftFar right
Economic-2.0
State-ledFree market
Social-1.0
ProgressiveConservative

Why we place them here

  • As Green Party leader he advocates rent controls, water renationalisation and renewable energy investment. [1]
  • He leads the Green Party of England and Wales, a party whose conference adopted an anti-Zionist position. [1]

Fact checks

Record

  • Controversy · October 1, 2026

    Party motion on Zionism

    The Green Party adopted an anti-Zionist position at its 2026 conference, passing a motion declaring Zionism a form of racism. The row created a political crisis for Polanski's leadership, and Israel barred him from entering the country. [2]

  • Controversy · October 1, 2026

    Calls to resign after by-election defeat

    After losing a by-election, Polanski faced pressure from within his own party to resign and was challenged in a BBC Radio 4 interview over whether he thinks Israel has a right to exist. He vowed to stay on as leader. [2]

  • Controversy · October 1, 2026

    Criticism of leadership focus

    Polanski has faced public criticism in letters to The Guardian over his leadership focus and policy priorities. [2]

Affiliations

  • Green Party of England and Wales

    A British political party. Polanski has led it since September 2025, having stood for the leadership in 2025. [3]

  • London Assembly

    The elected body that scrutinises the Mayor of London. Polanski was elected to it in May 2021 as a City Hall Green member. [4]

Sources

  1. [1]theguardian.com
  2. [2]theguardian.com
  3. [3]politics.co.uk
  4. [4]london.gov.uk
  5. [5]Photo: Bristol Green Party / Wikimedia Commons, CC0

Profiles are compiled from public reporting and updated as new information appears.

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