Zack Polanski swept to victory in the Green leadership race last year – but new research suggests he could be doing more harm than good.
Zack Polanski has made numerous headlines since becoming leader in September (Image: Getty)
The Green Party‘s popularity has nosedived since Zack Polanski became its leader, new figures suggest. Research from YouGov showed the party’s net favourability score dropping to -16, its lowest to date, in June, with some 52% viewing it negatively.
This marks a significant departure from the Greens’ plus five rating, recorded shortly before Mr Polanski took over last September. He swept to victory in the Green leadership race, having previously stood as a councillor for the Liberal Democrats before switching parties in 2017. Mr Polanski has courted a number of controversies since taking charge, including admitting that he had not voted in the local elections because he “fell short of time” while moving house.
Zack Polanski switched from the Lib Dems to the Greens in 2017 (Image: Getty)
The Greens were forced to return a donation he made three weeks after becoming leader because he was not on the electoral register at the time, something a spokesperson attributed to “personal security concerns”.
Mr Polanski also made headlines over allegations he had failed to pay the correct council tax while living on a houseboat, of which he was cleared last month, over the false claim that he was a Red Cross spokesperson, and for comments made following the Golders Green attack.
The YouGov research additionally indicated how public opinion has shifted on the other major parties, with Labour at the highest unfavourability level of 63% and just 28% holding a positive view, the Daily Mail reports.
The Conservatives were just behind them with an unfavourability score of 62% and 29% holding a positive view, while Reform ranked highest for “very unfavourable” views, at 53%.
Just shy of 30% claimed to hold a favourable view of Nigel Farage‘s party, while the Liberal Democrats claimed the lowest negative opinion, at 48%, and 34% holding a positive view.
YouGov also analysed changing political allegiances since the 2024 general election, showing that Labour voters are almost as likely to have a positive opinion of the Greens and Lib Dems, two years on.
Meanwhile, almost 60% of those who voted for Reform in 2024 also had a positive view of Rupert Lowe’s party, Restore Britain, in a further sign that Restore could split the right-wing vote.
