The Green Party has announced that it has overtaken the Conservative Party to become the UK’s third-largest political party, following a significant surge in membership under new leader Zack Polanski.
Polanski, a self-described “eco-populist,” was elected leader of the Greens in early September after running an overtly Left-wing campaign. Just six weeks into his leadership, Polanski revealed that the party’s membership had increased by 80%, bringing the total number of Green Party members to 125,000. This places the Greens behind only Labour and Reform UK in terms of membership size.
The Surge in Membership
At the time of the Conservative leadership election in 2022, the Tories boasted 131,000 members. However, recent figures show that the Conservatives’ membership has declined significantly, with the party now at 123,000, a loss of 8,000 members since the election of Kemi Badenoch as leader.
Meanwhile, Labour’s membership stood at 333,235 at the end of 2024, following a loss of around 200,000 members under the leadership of Sir Keir Starmer. The Liberal Democrats reported a membership of 83,174, while Reform UK, led by Nigel Farage, currently has about 260,000 members.
Polanski celebrated the surge, attributing the increase to growing dissatisfaction with the political status quo and the Green Party’s message of addressing inequality. “People are telling me what it’s down to. People are feeling hope, they can hear that I’m talking about the fact people’s wages aren’t high enough, the cost of living is too high,” he told the BBC.
Tackling Inequality at the Heart of Society
Polanski emphasized that the Green Party is uniquely focused on tackling inequality in Britain. “The four wealthiest people in Britain own more wealth than 20 million people combined,” he said, highlighting the extreme wealth disparity in the country. He argued that the Green Party is the only political party addressing the real struggles facing the public. “The Green Party are the only party really talking about the fact people are really struggling, they’re tired and exhausted, and it doesn’t have to be this way.”
NATO and Foreign Policy
In addition to his domestic agenda, Polanski reiterated his stance on foreign policy, particularly Britain’s involvement in NATO. While he called for the UK to eventually withdraw from the alliance, he acknowledged the current political turmoil in the world and said that any withdrawal should not happen “immediately.” “The world is in political turmoil and we need to make sure our country is defended,” Polanski added.
Conclusion
With a rapidly growing membership base and an agenda centered on social and economic equality, Polanski has positioned the Green Party as a strong contender in British politics. His leadership marks a shift towards eco-populism, with a focus on addressing the pressing challenges of income inequality and climate change. As the Green Party continues to gain momentum, the next few months will be crucial in determining whether this surge in support translates into electoral success.
This story may be updated with more information as it becomes available.
The post Greens Claim to Have Overtaken Tories as UK’s Third-Largest Party Amid Membership Surge first appeared on Trusted and Verified USA News.
