Zack Polanski
| Zack Polanski link Companies House LinkedIn Twitter Website (Politician, actor, author) | |
|---|---|
| File:Zack Polanski.jpg | |
| Born | David Paulden 2 November 1982 Salford, Greater Manchester |
| Alma mater | Aberystwyth University |
| Religion | Jewish |
| Party | Liberal Democrats, Greens |
UK politician | |
Zack Polanski is a British politician who was elected Leader of the Green Party of England and Wales in September 2025,[1] having been Deputy Leader since September 2022.[2]
Zack Polanski has been a Londonwide Member of the London Assembly (MLA) for the Greens since May 2021.[3]
Novara Media interviewed Polanski at length at the start of the UK/General election/2024 campaign.[4]
On 3 September 2026, Polanski announced his intention to stand in the 2026 Holborn and St Pancras by-election that was triggered by Sir Keir Starmer's resignation as an MP.[5]
Early life
Zack Polanski was born David Paulden, but aged 18 decided adopt his family's previous surname, which had been changed to Paulden in the early 20th century to evade antisemitism after they arrived in the UK from eastern Europe.
Polanski grew up in Salford in a Jewish family and attended Stockport Grammar School (on a financial scholarship) before leaving to go to a comprehensive college. He studied acting at Aberystwyth University before attending drama school in Georgia in the United States.[6]
He moved to London upon graduation. He is gay.[7]
Foreign policy
Polanski is critical of the UK's relationship with the United States and NATO, and advocates the UK's eventual withdrawal from NATO. Polanski has said he believes that the UK's membership of NATO was untenable in the long-term, in part due to Donald Trump's threats to annex Greenland, as well as NATO prioritising militarism before diplomacy. Polanski has suggested that establishing organisations that prioritise European defence, democracy, diplomacy and international peace would allow for the UK to eventually leave NATO. Polanski is opposed to the US-Israel war on Iran, describing it as an illegal war and advocating against the UK's involvement in it. In response to the war, Polanski said that the UK needed to prohibit American access to British bases and decouple from the United States, describing it as a rogue state that threatened genocide against Iranians, and argued for building a stronger security arrangement with other European countries instead.[8]
Polanski believes that the UK government are active participants in the Gaza genocide.[9] He has expressed the belief that the British government conflates Jewish people with Israel, and that this "makes [him] feel less safe as a Jewish person". Polanski has said that he was raised Zionist but changed his stance when he was older. During the 2026 Israeli invasion of Lebanon, Polanski said that Israel should be sanctioned for its actions.[10]
Polanski believes that criticism of the Israeli government and Gaza genocide have been deliberately conflated with and weaponised as being antisemitic in the press, while also describing antisemitism as a genuine issue. He has also stated his aim to make sure that the Greens "push back against false allegations of anti-Semitism, but also make sure that actual anti-Semitism is also being dealt with".[11]
Author
On 17 June 2024, Zack Polanski posted on X:
- "I'm really honoured to have co-authored a book with a brilliant group of people including @JamieDriscollNE.
- "Covering everything from a Universal Basic Income to a just transition for workers to tackle the climate crisis and wealth taxes too.
- "It's out next Tuesday."[12]
References
- ↑ "Zack Polanski's unusual path to becoming Green Party leader"
- ↑ "Green Party elects Zack Polanski as new deputy leader"
- ↑ "Jewish candidates prepare for battle"
- ↑ "Starmer Needs to Apologise for Gaza Comments | Zack Polanski | General Election 2024"
- ↑ "Zack Polanski seeks to stand for by-election in former PM Starmer's seat"
- ↑ "Zack Polanski on Linkedin"
- ↑ "Gay, Jewish and Vegan: In Conversation with Green Party Politican Zack Polanski"
- ↑ "Trump Is No Ally Of Britain – He Is A Threat Like Putin, Says Zack Polanski"
- ↑ "Labour government not just complicit – they are active participants in genocide, says Polanski"
- ↑ "Zack Polanski calls on government to impose robust sanctions on Israel amid Lebanon bombing"
- ↑ "I'm also a Jewish person who criticises the Israeli government's actions 'because' of my Judaism not in spite of it"
- ↑ "Act now: A vision for a better future and a new social contract"