How does Zack Polanski explain his move from the Liberal Democrat’s to the Green Party
Executive summary
Zack Polanski says he left the Liberal Democrats and joined the Green Party in 2017 because he disagreed with the Lib Dems on key issues — especially refugee rights and the party’s position on the left — and found the Greens’ stance and activism more aligned with his politics [1] [2]. His shift is framed publicly as part ideological realignment toward a more left-wing, “eco‑populist” approach and part tactical: he argues the Greens are better placed to challenge wealth and power and to attract disillusioned left voters [3] [4].
1. From Lib Dem activist to Green convert — the stated reasons
Polanski’s own narrative, echoed in multiple profiles, is that after early activism and electoral attempts with the Liberal Democrats he moved to the Greens in 2017 because he found their policies — notably on refugee rights — and their left‑of‑centre politics a closer fit to his values. Several outlets explicitly note he left the Lib Dems in 2017 and joined the Greens after contact with figures such as former Green leader Natalie Bennett and because of policy disagreements with the Lib Dems [1] [2]. Profiles say his Lib Dem phase included standing for local council and the London Assembly before switching [5] [6].
2. Ideology: “eco‑populism” and a turn left
Polanski frames the move not merely as party hopping but as an ideological progression toward a more populist left programme — what he and commentators call “eco‑populism.” He has publicly argued the Greens should “challenge wealth and power” and speak emotionally to voters rather than rely solely on technocratic messaging, a stance advanced during his deputy‑leader and leadership bids [4] [3]. Commentators and outlets have described his leadership pitch as a shift toward left‑wing, populist communication and strategy [3] [7].
3. Policy sparks: refugees and civil liberties
Reporting singles out refugee policy as a specific policy trigger. ITV’s profile reports Polanski switched after hearing the Greens’ stance on refugee rights, suggesting concrete policy differences — not just tone — were decisive in 2017 [2]. Other accounts underline his emphasis on wealth redistribution, public ownership and civil liberties in recent years as reasons he says the Greens better match his priorities [8] [9].
4. Tactical calculation: capturing disillusioned left voters
Analysts and Polanski himself argue his move also reflects a tactical calculation: the Greens can outflank Labour on the left and capitalise on voter disillusionment with the status quo. The Independent and Big Issue pieces portray him as someone seeking to pull disaffected left voters toward a party he sees as better positioned to challenge both Labour and the rising right [7] [10]. Owen Jones and The Guardian frame his trajectory as part of a deliberate strategy to retool Green communications to reach working‑class and emotionally engaged voters [4].
5. Personal background and political evolution
Profiles trace Polanski’s personal journey — from David Paulden to Zack Polanski, actor and hypnotherapist turned politician — showing a political evolution rather than a one‑off switch. He had been a Lib Dem candidate in 2015–16 before joining the Greens; reporting notes earlier moments (for example, heckling Jeremy Corbyn years earlier) that underscore a complex ideological path rather than a single binary break [5] [11].
6. Critics and alternative readings
Not all reaction frames the move as purely principled. Lib Dem commentators and partisan voices have criticised Polanski’s positioning and argued climate‑focused voters belong with the Lib Dems; LibDemVoice, for instance, used his early leadership messaging to argue the Greens under Polanski emphasized inequality over explicit climate rhetoric [8]. Observers also warn that his “eco‑populist” model risks replicating populist tactics without always providing detailed policy plans [7].
7. What sources do and do not say
Available reporting consistently states Polanski left the Liberal Democrats in 2017 and joined the Greens, citing refugee policy and a broader leftward ideological shift as drivers [1] [2]. Sources describe his later embrace of eco‑populism and tactical aims to net disillusioned Labour voters [4] [7]. Sources do not mention, however, private deliberations inside the Lib Dems that preceded his departure beyond his own and reporters’ accounts; they also do not provide direct quotations from Polanski at the exact moment of switching in 2017 detailing every motive — those retrospective narratives are what the journalism reports [1] [2].
Overall, contemporary coverage frames Polanski’s move as a mix of conviction and calculation: a principled disagreement (refugee policy and left‑leaning priorities) guided his exit from the Lib Dems in 2017, and since then he has recast that alignment into a populist‑left strategy aimed at expanding Green support [2] [4].