The Greens' difficult week should not obscure their transformative impact on British politics; unity and democratic reform will let them drive change
Source: https://www.theguardian.com/profile/zack-polanski. "Yes, it’s been a tough week for the Greens: but don’t lose sight of how we’re transforming British politics | Zack Polanski | The Guardian." October 11, 2026. www.theguardian.com
The Gist
Polanski admits the Greens have had a rough week after losing a byelection and facing a row over a motion calling Zionism racism. He argues the party has still reshaped politics by pushing Labour leftwards, and that it can keep doing so if it unites, reforms its internal democracy and rejects antisemitism. He says the country needs the Greens' bold policies as living standards come under pressure.
Conclusion
Despite a tough week of electoral disappointment and controversy over the 'Zionism is racism' motion, the Green party is transforming British politics and, with unity, internal democratic reform and zero tolerance of antisemitism under Polanski's leadership, it should keep pressing its bold agenda.
Premises
- The Greens have won unprecedented successes this year, including their first parliamentary byelection win and landslide council and mayoral victories in former Labour strongholds.
- These successes have pushed Labour to the left: Starmer was toppled and replaced by a prime minister to his left, government tone on Israel changed, and some anti-migrant policies were rolled back.
- The Holborn and St Pancras result, in which the Greens tripled their vote share in a long-held Labour seat, shows the Greens are the first serious nationwide threat to Labour on its left and are here to stay.
- The controversy over the conference motion was handled reasonably: Polanski sympathises with the motion's substance but disagrees with parts of it, thinks a party should not dictate beliefs about Zionism, missed the vote to prioritise the byelection, and will not tolerate antisemitism.
- The party has outgrown its democratic structures, so it needs processes that engage members more widely, give leaders more strategic responsibility and are more robust and accessible.
- The government is on course for the worst parliament for living standards in modern times, with rising energy bills and rents, no concrete support from Burnham, and Reform UK exploiting the cost of living to divide communities.
- The Greens' policies, such as an emergency brake on rents and full public ownership of water companies, are solutions the government will not adopt unless forced to.
Assumptions
- Electoral success is the primary mechanism by which the Greens can drive policy change.
- Labour's shifts in leadership and policy are caused substantially by Green electoral pressure rather than by other factors.
- A vote-share increase in one byelection, despite losing, indicates a durable structural threat to Labour.
- Reassurances and a promised meeting with concerned members are sufficient to address concerns about antisemitism and the motion.
- Internal unity and democratic reform are compatible with, and will strengthen, the party's electoral prospects.
- Being absent from the vote was a legitimate leadership choice rather than an abdication of responsibility.