North Yorkshire Green Party say new leader is “fearless and charismatic”

Cllr Arnold Warneken, Green Party (North Yorkshire) said:

The national Green Party have a new leader, Zack Polanski.

He’s a fearless and charismatic leader, which is just what we need. Zack will challenge fake news. He’ll stand up for ordinary people and show that they haven’t been abandoned.

He will show that the Green Party is serious about much more the environment and is a real alternative to the main parties. He won’t sit on the fence, or go back on policies to get votes.

And with Zack in charge, farmers and the rural economy can feel confident that he will protect their interests. As as a region, we’ll know God’s Own County is in safe hands – he will protect our two national parks, our rivers and special coastline.

With Zack in charge, the future is bright – and not just green.

Launching his leadership, Polanski promised action on the overlapping social and environmental crises. Polanski argues, inaction on the cost of housing and spiralling bills, and the cost of living has been justified through a “austerity consensus” pushed by a Westminster consensus.

In contrast, Polanski says it is time for an “honest conversation” about how we deliver affordable and safe homes, green jobs and free childcare. This, he argues, can be delivered by making “bold political choices” financed fairly by taxing wealth, not punishing the majority.

Zack Polinski said:

The planet is burning and so is the public’s patience.

People are rightly feeling let down and angry at Labour and are appalled by the rise of the far-right. People have been crushed by spiralling rents and bills while wages have not kept pace. For too long, it’s felt like there has been no reprieve. But there is a way forward.

We need bold action, bold leadership. It’s time the super-rich paid their share. It’s time to tax extreme wealth and redistribute it to those struggling to live, to breathe, to survive.

Elected with the largest ever number of votes in a Green Party leadership election, Zack paid tribute to the previous leadership of Adrian Ramsay and Carla Denyer saying:

My pitch to the country offering a vision of a real radical alternative is only possible because it builds on the success of recent years.

We stand as a party with our highest ever membership, highest ever polling average, highest ever general election result, highest ever number of MPs and Councillors. This is because of the amazing work we’ve done with my predecessors. We’ve come so far, but this is only just the start.

It’s time to take this bold vision of social and environmental justice up a gear.

I come into this role today with urgency, purpose, and a single mission: To build a country where no one is left behind.