Interview with Zack Polanski: ‘Movement building is incredibly important’

Zack Polanski speaking at the We Demand Change summit (Picture: Guy Smallman)

SW: What do you think of Zarah Sultana’s call for a new left party announced earlier this week?

Zack Polanski (ZP): We need to wait and see what it is. Anything that challenges the duopoly of Conservatives and Labour is something I would consider an ally.

At the same time, if people want to see climate justice and racial, social and economic justice there is already a party that has a democratic movement behind it. In the spirit of cooperation I would still encourage people to join the Green Party.

SW: What is the best way to take on Reform UK?

ZP: Improve people’s material conditions. People are not born racist or with hatred towards the other.

But when there are conditions of scarcity and a small group of billionaires trying to turn people against each other there are two things we need. Firstly, solidarity with the communities most affected.

Secondly, we need to improve people’s material conditions. Reduce their bills and rent, build council housing and defend the NHS. And we need to recognise that this is not something new.

Working class people have often combined their struggles with migrants, refugees and people of colour, who are often working class themselves. Solidarity is how we defeat them.

SW: Solidarity with refugees?

ZP: Yes, absolutely

SW: I noticed former Green MP leader Caroline Lucas is supporting the rival bid for leadership from Ellie Chowns and Adrian Ramsay. Do you think you will win?

I’m not complacent. I will campaign for every vote. But I’m feeling very confident. We have a whole wave of new members. I met someone who had been a member of the Green Party since 1986 and they said that I am exactly what the party needs. There are 100 councillors who back us.

And there is a wave of new people who recognise that the Green Party is the most obvious route to challenging Reform UK and this deeply unpopular Labour government.

I can’t win without votes. I’d encourage everyone to join before 31 July to get a vote.

SW: We are at an event talking about climate justice and there is a lot we agree on. For revolutionary socialists our priority is building movements in the streets and on the workplaces. But for the Green Party it seems that the ultimate goal is to get more people elected as MPs and councillors. Why should someone reading this get involved in electoral politics?

ZP: I actually think it’s both. Movement building is incredibly important. And I believe in the power of electoral politics. Those people voted in need to remember who put them there.

I also think that no one party or movement has a monopoly on wisdom. I am here at this event because of the threat of Reform UK and a Labour government implementing austerity. And anyone who wants to challenge that is someone I want to learn from.