Can the Greens bring back the buzz?published at 09:50 BST
09:50 BST
Joshua Nevett
Political reporter
Image source, PA MediaImage caption,
Green Party leader Zack Polanski speaking during last year’s conference
A surge of new members, a by-election victory and significant gains in local elections this year have turned the Green Party of England and Wales into a force to be reckoned with.
Under the leadership of Zack Polanski, the party’s brand of “eco-populism” has posed a challenge to Labour on the left of British politics.
But to an extent, a reinvigorated Labour Party led by Prime Minister Andy Burnham has eaten the Green Party’s lunch.
Labour’s polling numbers have improved markedly in recent months, suggesting Burnham may be winning back some supporters that had drifted towards Polanski’s party.
As recent YouGov polling shows, the party’s net favourability rating has fallen from +5 to -19 over the course of Polanski’s leadership.
A series of rows over Polanski’s social media posts and allegations he hadn’t paid council tax haven’t helped. Nor has an ongoing internal battle over how radical the party should be.
The party conference this week is an opportunity to bring back the buzz and fire up the party’s base. Bolder offers on public ownership of essential services, and taxing the rich, are almost certain to feature.
But the timing isn’t ideal for Polanski, who is contesting the Holborn and St Pancras by-election next week as the Green Party’s candidate.
There’s a risk the local campaign could be drowned out by the noise of the conference, where we’re expecting some divisive debates about the party’s policies.