Meet Zack Polanski, the Green Party leader who is shaking up British politics with his unconventional views. Polanski has proposed legalising all drugs, removing right-wing individuals from society, and previously claimed he could increase women’s breast size through hypnosis.
Polanski recently caused fresh controversy on his Bold Politics podcast, where he questioned whether right-wing and far-right supporters should be excluded from the country he envisions. During the episode, Polanski asked his guest Zakia Sewell about uniting a divided nation, suggesting that some people who identify as right-wing or far-right are intent on spreading toxicity and may not be persuadable.
He said, “There are people who would identify as right-wing, or indeed even far-right. No matter what humanity or community we put them in, they are set on destroying or pushing this toxicity. Do we think we can change their minds? Or is it a case of building a society that doesn’t include them?”
Sewell cautioned Polanski against alienating moderates, but the comments sparked immediate backlash. Tory chairman Kevin Hollinrake condemned the remarks as “authoritarian,” comparing Polanski’s ideas to oppressive regimes such as Soviet Russia, Mao’s China, and Castro’s Cuba. Hollinrake stated, “This is the opening line of every authoritarian playbook.”
Reform UK also criticised Polanski’s stance, calling it a “mask slip” and accusing him of wanting to exclude anyone politically right of centre. Their spokesman said, “That’s not politics, that’s authoritarianism.”
Polanski’s divisive comments come amid further challenges for the Green Party. Several local candidates have recently faced accusations of anti-Semitic hate speech, creating tension with voters and the media. Polanski has also criticised the prevailing narrative around Winston Churchill, describing the war hero as “deeply problematic.”
Polanski’s political platform is ambitious and controversial. Ahead of the Green Party conference, he openly supported the full legalisation of all drugs, including hard substances like heroin and crack cocaine, calling the war on drugs a “failure” and advocating for a public health approach instead. His proposals include:
- Full legalisation and regulation of all drugs to dismantle criminal networks
- Calls from within the Green Party to abolish prisons entirely
- Support for legalising prostitution
Critics warn that this platform is unlike anything proposed by other UK political parties.
Before entering politics, Polanski ran a hypnotherapy clinic on Harley Street. He reportedly charged women £222 for 90-minute sessions that claimed to enlarge breasts through hypnosis. When these claims resurfaced, Polanski initially denied them, calling it an experiment. He later admitted to the practice, apologised, and emphasised that it does not represent who he is today. He said, “This was 11 years ago. I wasn’t involved in politics at all.”
Polanski’s career has been varied, including work as a barman, nightclub doorman, and actor before fully committing to politics.
Supporters view Polanski as a bold radical challenging the status quo, while critics see him as someone willing to exclude dissenting voices rather than engage with them. Regardless, Zack Polanski remains a unique and polarising figure in British politics.
Originally published by UKNIP.
