Zack Polanski, the new leader of the Green Party, is currently enjoying a surge in support from young voters as Labour struggles to maintain its position in the political landscape. This comes at a time when Downing Street is facing a crisis of its own making, with senior Labour figures briefing against health secretary Wes Streeting and suggesting a coup against Keir Starmer. However, as Streeting swiftly denied these accusations and compared them to conspiracy theories, it is clear that Labour is facing a difficult time.
The recent polls by Find Out Now have shown that Labour has fallen into fourth place, with only 15% of the vote. This is a significant drop from their previous position as the leading party in the country. Reform UK is currently holding onto their lead with 33%, while the Tories are consistently in third place with 16%. Surprisingly, it is the Green Party that has managed to overtake Labour and secure second place with 17% of the vote.
This trend is also reflected among young voters, who have been flocking to the Greens in large numbers. A recent Savanta poll for ITV News and ITV’s Peston programme revealed that young people are abandoning Labour in favor of the Greens. The proportion of 18 to 25-year-olds who said they would support Labour dropped from 43% in March to 25% in November. On the other hand, support for the Greens has surged from 16% to 32% in the same time period.
According to a Green Party source, their recent successes feel “unbelievable” and a little “ridiculous”. This is a clear indication of the party’s growing popularity among young people. Chris Hopkins, the political research director at Savanta, believes that this decline in support from young people is not unexpected. He explains that Labour’s drop in support across all age groups since their historic general election victory last year has made it difficult for them to maintain their lead among any age group, including their once-reliable base of support among young people.
Hopkins also points out that while other age groups may be more likely to turn to Reform, it is the Greens who are benefiting from the decline in support for Labour among young people. This support for the Greens is particularly strong among young women and the younger age group of 18-21. This highlights the challenge that Labour now faces in trying to win back voters from all sides.
So how have the Greens managed to capitalize on Labour’s woes? Ironically, it is the new party leader Zack Polanski who seems to have stepped into a role previously associated with former Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn. Just a few years ago, “Oh, Jeremy Corbyn” was the political chant that resonated with young people. Now, it is Polanski who is winning over the hearts of the younger generation with his eco-populist approach.
Polanski, who was elected as the Green Party leader in September, has wasted no time in making his mark. He has been attending gigs and making waves on social media, much like Corbyn did in his prime. The Green leader and London Assembly member has already managed to increase the party’s membership to a record 150,000, surpassing both the Lib Dems and the Conservatives.
Although Polanski is yet to find his own catchy chant, he has been successful in getting “tax the rich” going at a recent Rizzle Kicks gig. This is a clear indication of his popularity among young people, who are drawn to his message of hope and change on issues such as the cost of living, housing, and the NHS. Polanski believes that the current Labour government has failed to offer any hope or change and is only serving the interests of the wealthy 1%.
The decline in support for Labour among young people is also reflected in the net favorability ratings of party leaders. While both the Tories’ Kemi Badenoch and Reform’s Nigel Farage have a net favorability rating of -33, the Lib Dems’ Ed Davey and Polanski are at -4. This is a significant drop for Starmer, whose net favorability has dropped to -51 in October – the lowest rating recorded by YouGov so far.
The success of the Greens can also be attributed to their new leader’s ability to engage with young people. Polanski has been touring the country, meeting and engaging with young people, as the party tries to build a large youth membership. The Greens are also trying
