As the Green Party in England and Wales gathers for its annual conference in Brighton, leader Zack Polanski faces a sharp drop in public support. New YouGov polling reveals his net favourability has fallen to minus 19, just days before he contests the Holborn and St Pancras by-election.
The Green Party arrives at its annual gathering in Brighton with a complicated political reality. While the past year brought surging membership to over 200,000 and notable electoral gains in local councils and boroughs, fresh public opinion data tells a different story about the party’s trajectory under its leadership.
Public perception of the party and its leader has shifted dramatically since the spring surge. Polling data released by YouGov on September 30 shows that fewer Britons are willing to consider voting for the Greens than earlier in the year, casting a shadow over the party’s upcoming conference.
Why Has Public Sentiment Shifted Against Zack Polanski?
Back in March, the party enjoyed a peak when 28% of Britons said they would consider voting Green, and net favourability for Zack Polanski stood at plus five. By late September, that potential vote share had contracted to 23%, and the leader’s net favourability dropped to minus 19.
YouGov data indicates that 50% of the public view Polanski unfavourably, while only 21% believe he is doing a good job. Nearly half of respondents used at least one negative term in a three-word description of the Green leader, citing characteristics such as being out of touch, incompetent, or untrustworthy.
Critics have also pointed to various controversies over the past year, including historical remarks regarding hypnotherapy.
What Does the Holborn and St Pancras By-Election Mean for the Greens?
The immediate political test for Polanski arrives on October 8, when voters in Holborn and St Pancras head to the polls. The high-profile contest follows the departure of former prime minister Keir Starmer, who quit Parliament in September.
Polanski is one of 15 candidates standing in the constituency, which has remained under Labour control since its creation in 1983. Labour’s candidate, Camden Council leader Sagal Abdi-Wali, enters the contest.
A victory for the Greens would mirror their breakthrough earlier in the year in Gorton and Denton under candidate Hannah Spencer, potentially bringing their total number of MPs to six.
How Are Rival Parties Responding to the Green Ascendance?
At the same time, internal tensions have surfaced within the Green movement itself. A breakaway group known as the Green Women’s Declaration has initiated legal action against the party alleging discrimination following the expulsion of members over gender-critical comments. Polanski defended the party’s stance during summer festival appearances, stating that respecting pronouns remains a red line for basic human dignity.
As delegates assemble in Brighton, the leadership aims to refocus attention on cost-of-living pressures, public services, and housing disputes.