Polanski’s popularity plummets to record low in wake of Green by-election loss and ‘Zionism’ motion

Zack Polanski’s popularity has fallen to a record low following criticism within the Green Party and its defeat in the Holborn and St Pancras by-election. The decline matters because it has intensified questions about his leadership and the party’s position after a conference motion describing Zionism as “racism”.

An Ipsos poll conducted in October found 52 per cent viewed Polanski unfavourably, up six points from September, while 16 per cent viewed him favourably, giving him a net rating of minus 36. His support has also weakened among under-35s, whose net rating of him fell from plus 16 in April to plus two. About 1,000 Green members backed the motion and 800 opposed it; senior party figures have criticised Polanski, while Labour has warned Green groups in coalition with it to disown the motion or lose its support.