By Claire Laker-Mansfield
“I think we are extraordinarily fortunate that the Green Party are shit”. These are the words of one anonymous Labour minister in the wake of the 1 May local elections. At first glance, a statement like this might seem a bit unfair on the Greens. The party’s representation in local government is now at a record high. In parliament, the party now has four MPs – the most in its history (and only one less than Reform).
Yet the Greens have failed to make the kind of breakthrough that might make them start to look like a viable governmental alternative, or even a more credible left-wing opposition. Their polling numbers have failed to consistently break the 10% barrier.
It’s in this context that Zack Polanski, the party’s current deputy leader, has put himself forward to be the party’s new leader. Polanski is presenting himself as a more left-wing and radical candidate. Looking at his own background, this is somewhat surprising. Polanski started his political career as a Lib Dem, before becoming a London Assembly member for the Greens.
He publicly attacked Jeremy Corbyn during the confected Labour antisemitism ‘crisis’, while also criticising him as insufficiently pro-EU. In recent interviews Polanski has distanced himself from these positions and offered an apology to Corbyn for his comments regarding antisemitism.
Some might view this as the record of an unprincipled political careerist. But, on the other hand, the dramatic events reshaping our world have prompted many individuals to reconsider their previous positions. It may not be fair to dismiss Polanski purely on that basis.
But the real question that is posed for the Greens – and especially for an aspiring left-wing leader – is can the party be the vehicle through which a serious challenge to the capitalist establishment is built?
Polanski certainly wants the Greens to adopt a more combative tone, and to focus more clearly on the issue of inequality, but he has outlined only in scant detail what programmatic or policy changes he would argue for as leader. More recently he has said the Green Party should drop its position of support for NATO, which is welcome. Nonetheless, so far the focus of his arguments is mainly on issues of presentation.
The Greens’ record in power
The Greens already have a significant amount of power. The party controls several local authorities across England. They run the council in Bristol, where they have recently declared themselves “proud” to be putting forward a budget that includes £50 million worth of cuts. When previously running the council in Brighton, the party used Tory union-busting tactics against low-waged bin workers striking for fair pay.
In interviews, Polanski has been friendly towards left independent and Labour MPs, saying they should be welcome in the Greens. But he does not clearly oppose the kind of sectarian approach which led to the Green Party standing against left candidates like Corbyn in the general election.
It is undoubtedly the case that there are many people within the Greens who are looking for a new left political vehicle, and are open to or supportive of socialist ideas. Socialist Alternative calls for the launching of a new left party of struggle – with rights for individuals, socialist organisations, trade unions and workers’ organisations to join. It would make sense for such a new formation to work positively with, and potentially incorporate, those parts of the Green Party with a clear anti-capitalist, pro-working-class approach. But the Green Party is not currently a vehicle that workers can rely upon to defend their interests.
As welcome as aspects of Zack Polanski’s campaign may be, he has not demonstrated how the Greens could be transformed from the ground up into the kind of party that consistently fights on the side of workers.
For that reason, it remains crucial that we continue to campaign for the launch of a new left party, which can bring together the struggles of working-class people.
