New Green Party leader Zack Polanski slammed a failing Labour government, Nigel Farage’s Reform and announced a slew of cost-of-living busting polices in his first conference speech.
The Green Party leader took aim at Reform’s politics of despair and Labour’s capitulation to right wing sentiment in a conference opening speech highlighting the party’s recent growth and policies for a fairer Britain.
Polanski promised to create a place Britons can all afford to live in, backed by a much talked about tax on the wealthy 1% he described as “people who go to sleep tonight and without lifting a finger they will wake up richer, much richer”.
One of only five Jewish people to lead a British party in the last 100 years, Polanski grew up in Manchester and is supported by deputy leaders Mothin Ali, a steelworker’s son whose parents came from Bangladesh, and Rachel Millward, from the West Midlands with a Danish great granded and a Welsh grandma.
Against that canvas of leadership, the speech painted a picture of how immigration helped build the Britain of today, calling it a country enriched by people from all over the world.
Polanski said: “The threat to the places we love comes not from people arriving in small boats, but from an economic system that sucks money from people and places who need it.
“This is a nation of neighbours.”
On Palestine, Polanski vowed the party “would not remain silent in the face of ongoing mass slaughter” and “attempts by the UK government to silence dissent” and called for an end to intelligence sharing and arms sales to Israel.
With a hopeful atmosphere and a conference full of people ready to be inspired, the Green Party promised seats in the Sennedd, more MPs, a Mayor in Hackney and a party that represents every corner of this country.
Pointing to the recent 22,000 new members to the party, Polanski said: “Look at next year alone and get ready for some Bold Politics.
“This is the Green Party’s hour – If there was ever a time to join us, it is now.”
The Green Party conference runs until Sunday October 5th and you can read more about Zack Polanski here.
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