Is Zack's Green revolution coming to the East Midlands?

The Green Party claims it is now the third-largest party in the country.

- Reporter JOE LOCKER

Its membership has overtaken the Tories under new leader, Zack Polanski. In the East Midlands, the party hopes it can continue to make ground in the years ahead.

AT the beginning of September self-proclaimed “eco-populist” Zack Polanski became the new leader of the Green Party.

Just over a month later the party reported it had hit 100,000 members for the first time a 50 per cent rise since he took over.

Membership has now reached 170,000, surpassing the Conservative Party, which reportedly had around 120,000 members as of its latest figures.

While membership numbers do not always correspond to winning elections Jeremy Corbyn’s Labour Party had 500,000 members - the outpouring of support is notable.

In the East Midlands, membership has soared from 4,000 to 12,000.

The Green Party’s sudden push onto the frontlines to become it claims - the third largest party by membership comes at a time when Nigel Farage’s re-branded Brexit Party, Reform UK, continues to dominate in local council elections.

“The Reform surge comes from an anti-status quo politics,” says Ben Gray, co-chairperson of the East Midlands Green Party.