Zack Polanski in talks with Labour MPs about defection to Greens
The Green Party leader tells The News Agents that he is in conversation with Labour MPs about defection.
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In brief…
- Zack Polanski reveals he is discussing defection to the Green Party with an unknown number of Labour MPs, following a rapid rise in popularity since he became leader.
- Polanski tells The News Agents that he previously believed a high profile defection was needed to draw attention to the Greens, but after more than doubling its membership numbers, no longer believes that is the case.
- He also welcomes former Labour MPs to join the Greens, including independent Zarah Sultana, who is currently co-leading Your Party alongside Jeremy Corbyn.
A number of Labour MPs are considering defecting to the Green Party, Zack Polanski has confirmed.
Speaking to The News Agents, he says the party’s recent, and rapid, rise in popularity has members of the government considering their political allegiances.
Polanski did not name any MPs who he was in discussion with.
The Green Party this week surpassed 110,000 members, an increase from 68,000 when Polanski scored a landslide victory to become leader in September.
“I’m talking to Labour MPs about defections, yes,” Polanski says during an interview with Lewis Goodall.
“I don't think we're in a place where we need defections from MPs. I think we've clearly got the energy and momentum anyway.”
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As well as the Greens’ huge increase in members, it has also seen an impressive jump in recent opinion polls, averaging around 13% in voter intention, only a few per cent behind Labour and the Tories.
Polanski admits that a few months ago he believed the Greens needed defections to make headlines and attract attention, he says the party’s organic growth under his leadership has already made it a “credible force in British politics”.
“I’d still welcome a defection, because I'd rather people from the Labour Party who feel like it's not aligning with their values, join the Green Party so they're able to speak up,” he adds.
“I think that would be good for the country, and also I think that would gain us even more momentum and energy.
“But we're in the place where we don't need defections at this point.”
The Green Party, and its huge recent bump in popularity, has come at the same time as Jeremy Corbyn and Zarah Sultana have also attempted to launch a left-wing political party with their alliance, tentatively known as Your Party.
Polanski says he would welcome a relationship between the two parties – but also offers Sultana a place in the Greens.
“I like Zarah, come join the Green Party,” he says.
He adds, however, that he is not going to “beg anyone” to defect.