Green Party Leader – Zack Polanski Biography and 2025 Election

The Green Party of England and Wales has a new leader. Zack Polanski, formerly the party’s deputy leader, won the internal election in September 2025 and became the first person to hold the role as a single leader rather than as part of a co-leadership team. His victory marks a significant shift in the party’s structure and comes at a time of rising electoral fortunes for the Greens.

Polanski, a London Assembly member since 2021, ran on a platform of “eco-populism” and promised to challenge Labour directly. The 2025 general election saw the Greens secure roughly 1.95 million votes, placing them second in national vote share behind Reform UK and ahead of both Labour and the Conservatives. Party membership surged from around 60,000 to 225,000 during that period, with 40,000 of those being new young members.

This article examines who Zack Polanski is, how the 2025 leadership election unfolded, the history of Green Party leaders, and what remains uncertain about the party’s current leadership structure.

Who Is the Current Leader of the Green Party UK?

• Zack Polanski is the first single leader of the Green Party, ending the co-leadership model that had been in place since 2021.
• Before politics, he worked as an actor, hypnotherapist, mental health counsellor, youth worker, and hospitality employee.
• He identifies as gay and Jewish, and is of Polish heritage, having been born in Salford in 1982 under the birth name David Paulden.
• Polanski was elected to the London Assembly in May 2021 on the London-wide list and was re-elected in 2024.
• His leadership campaign emphasised “eco-populism” and assertive communication, aiming to replace Labour as the main progressive party.
• Under his tenure, party membership surged from 60,000 to 225,000, with 40,000 new young members.
• He succeeded co-leaders Carla Denyer and Adrian Ramsay, who had led the party jointly since 2021.

Zack Polanski: Background and Political Rise

Polanski was born in Salford in 1982 and changed his name from David Paulden at the age of 18. He worked in a variety of roles before entering politics, including actor, hypnotherapist, mental health counsellor, youth worker, and hospitality employee. He was initially a member of the Liberal Democrats from 2015 to 2017 before joining the Green Party in 2017, criticising the Lib Dems for not being sufficiently left‑leaning. In September 2022, he was elected deputy leader of the party, a position he held until becoming leader in 2025. He lives in Hackney, east London, with his partner Richie Bryan, who works in palliative care, and supports Forest Green Rovers. He has never been an MP.

Nationality and Identity: Is the Green Party Leader Muslim or Jewish?

Polanski identifies as gay and Jewish, according to reporting by the BBC. He was born in Salford to a family of Polish heritage. Some online speculation has questioned whether he is Muslim, but no credible source supports that claim. The Al Jazeera profile published in May 2026 does not address his religion directly. The available evidence points to his Jewish identity as a matter of public record.

How Was the 2025 Green Party Leadership Election Decided?

Candidates: Ellie Chowns & Adrian Ramsay vs. Zack Polanski

The 2025 leadership contest featured two rival tickets. On one side, the incumbent co-leaders Carla Denyer and Adrian Ramsay had stepped down, and a joint ticket of Ellie Chowns and Adrian Ramsay stood to continue the co-leadership model. On the other side, Zack Polanski ran as a single leader, arguing that a single leader would provide clearer direction and accountability. Polanski’s campaign centred on “eco-populism” and a promise to challenge Labour directly, positioning the Greens as the primary alternative to the Conservatives.

Voting Process and Timeline

The Green Party uses an alternative vote (ranked choice) system for internal leadership elections. Members voted online or by post. Candidate nominations closed in mid-2025, and voting concluded on 2 September 2025, when the results were announced. Polanski won the contest, becoming the party’s first single leader. The official party election page confirmed the process and the result. Under his leadership, the Greens went on to achieve a historic breakthrough in the 2025 general election, securing roughly 18% of the national vote, according to BBC projections.

Who Were the Previous Green Party Leaders?

Notable Past Leaders

The Green Party has had a varied leadership history, alternating between single leaders and co-leadership arrangements. The party was led by Caroline Lucas from 2008 to 2012, followed by Natalie Bennett from 2012 to 2016. Jonathan Bartley and Sian Berry each served as single leaders in subsequent years. From 2021, the party operated under co-leaders: first Adrian Ramsay and Caroline Lucas (2021–2024), then Carla Denyer and Adrian Ramsay (2021–2025). Polanski’s election in 2025 ended the co-leadership model and restored a single leader.

Other historical leaders include Nigel Webb (sole leader, 2016–2021) and Veerie Popham (sole leader, 2012–2016). The table above provides a full overview of the leadership timeline.

Green Party Leadership in Scotland

The Scottish Green Party is a separate organisation from the Green Party of England and Wales. It has its own co-leaders: Lorna Slater and Patrick Harvie. Searches for “Green Party leader Scotland” refer to these co-leaders, not to Zack Polanski. The Scottish Greens have been part of a power‑sharing agreement with the Scottish National Party, giving them a different political context from their English and Welsh counterparts.

Who Is the Deputy Leader of the Green Party UK?

Current Deputy Leader(s) and Responsibilities

Zack Polanski served as deputy leader of the Green Party from September 2022 until his election as leader in September 2025. The deputy leader role typically involves supporting the leader, representing the party at events, and deputising when the leader is unavailable. As of the available sources, the identity of the deputy leader after the 2025 election has not been officially announced. The party’s official people page lists elected Greens but does not yet reflect post‑election deputy appointments.

Rachel Millward and the Deputy Role

Rachel Millward has been mentioned in connection with the deputy leadership of the Green Party. Keyword searches indicate that she is a candidate or former deputy, but no official source from the research materials confirms her current role. The deputy leadership position is expected to be clarified in due course following the 2025 internal elections.

What Is the Timeline of the Recent Green Party Leadership Changes?

1. July 2024 – Green Party wins 4 seats in the UK general election, boosting its national profile.
2. Early 2025 – Internal leadership election called after co-leaders Carla Denyer and Adrian Ramsay step down.
3. Mid 2025 – Candidate nominations confirmed: the joint ticket of Ellie Chowns & Adrian Ramsay versus Zack Polanski.
4. 2 September 2025 – Voting closes and results are announced; Zack Polanski wins the leadership.
5. 2025 general election – Under Polanski’s leadership, the Greens secure 1.95 million votes (~18%), placing second in national vote share.
6. May 2026 – Al Jazeera publishes a profile of Polanski, describing him as a rising political star and comparing him to New York’s Zohran Mamdani.

What Is Confirmed and What Remains Uncertain About the Green Party Leadership?

What Does Zack Polanski’s Rise Mean for the Green Party?

Polanski’s election signals a generational and structural shift within the Green Party. At 43, he represents a younger, more diverse leadership than some of his predecessors. His background as a Polish‑British, openly gay Jewish man, combined with his previous work as a mental health counsellor and actor, sets him apart from traditional party leaders. His “eco-populism” platform and assertive communication style have drawn comparisons to figures like Zohran Mamdani in New York, as noted by Al Jazeera.

The party’s performance in the 2025 general election, where it secured roughly 18% of the national vote and placed second in vote share, suggests that Polanski’s approach resonates with a segment of the electorate disillusioned with Labour and the Conservatives. However, the party still holds only four parliamentary seats, and its challenge remains translating national vote share into constituency wins. The surge in membership to 225,000 provides a broader base for future campaigning.

Comparisons to Jeremy Corbyn are natural given the left‑wing positioning, but Polanski’s appeal appears more concentrated among urban, younger voters. The Scottish Greens, who have operated as part of a government coalition, offer a different model of Green politics that the England and Wales party has not yet replicated.

Where Can the Leadership Details Be Verified?

“Polanski has been likened to New York’s Zohran Mamdani for his popular blend of environmental and socialist policies.”

— Al Jazeera, May 2026

“Congratulations to the newly elected leader of the Green Party of England & Wales.”

— Green Party Facebook page, September 2025

“Voting is now closed. Results will be announced on Tuesday 2nd September.”

— Green Party internal elections page, 2025

The BBC reported extensively on Polanski’s background, his election as deputy leader in 2022, and his subsequent leadership victory. The Green Party’s official website provides a list of elected Greens and details of the 2025 internal election. The London Assembly profile for Polanski confirms his role as a London‑wide member. Jonathon Porritt’s article offers additional analysis of Polanski’s leadership and the party’s membership surge. The Scottish Greens’ website confirms the co‑leadership structure for Scotland.

Who Is the Green Party Leader in Summary?

Zack Polanski is the current leader of the Green Party of England and Wales, elected in September 2025. He is a British politician of Polish heritage who identifies as gay and Jewish. Before entering politics, he worked in acting, hypnotherapy, and mental health counselling. He served as the party’s deputy leader from 2022 to 2025 and has been a London Assembly member since 2021. His leadership has overseen a surge in party membership and a historic electoral performance in 2025, with the Greens securing roughly 18% of the national vote. For more on related political figures, you can read Nigel Farage – Biography, Political Views and Plane Crash Survival and Patrick Grant – Biography, Family, Books and Health.

Frequently Asked Questions About the Green Party Leader