Green party reaches 100,000 members for first time after Polanski becomes leader | Green party

The Greens in England and Wales have more than 100,000 members for the first time, the party has announced; The party is up nearly 50% since Zack Polanski took over as leader last month.

This puts them in the potential to overtake the Conservatives and comes just over a week after the Greens announced they had surpassed the Liberal Democrats in membership, reaching 83,500.

Party officials say they could be on track to become bigger than the Conservatives if the same momentum continues. Conservative party membership numbers are not publicly disclosed, but recent reports put the total membership at just over 120,000.

These figures do not necessarily translate into electoral success, as Labor peaked at more than 500,000 members under Jeremy Corbyn, who lost two general elections. While a recent poll put the Greens’ vote share at 15%, most such polls put the party closer to 11% or 12%; Not much has changed since Polanski took office.

But the influx of members points to Polanski’s apparent ability to galvanize the attention and enthusiasm of a party that often struggles to get its message across with a slew of interviews, social media videos and TV appearances.

The rise of the Greens has raised concerns among some senior Labor figures in England, particularly in some London boroughs, who believe they could take votes and seats from the party in local elections next May.

Polanski has repeatedly expressed what he sees as the Greens’ ambition to replace Labour. Speaking to the party’s annual conference this month, he said Keir Starmer would “serve this country on a platter” to Reformation England if no action was taken.

Responding to the new membership figure, Polanski said: “More than 100,000 people have now joined the Green Movement. That means 100,000 people who believe politics can be honest, fair and hopeful again.”

“When I was elected leader last month, I said we weren’t here to disappoint Labor, we were here to replace them. I meant it. Because while Labor talks about change, people can see electricity bills and services collapsing in their weekly shop, Labor is delivering more of the same.

“The Greens are the only real opposition left in British politics. They stand for fair taxes, a liveable planet and a future where compassion and courage matter more than corporate interests. People are understandably disappointed, but we’re here to make hope normal again.”