'STARMER? SCARED OF ME. REEVES? WORSE THAN STUPID. STREETING? IMMORAL'

Green leader Zack Polanski is taking the fight to Labour with his brand of eco-populism — but while he's riding high in the polls, do his economic policies really stack up?

- ANNA VAN PRAAGH

I'm having the time of my life, it’s amazing," says Zack Polanski, eyes twinkling, in his signature navy blue suit (Vinted, Uniqlo) eating a vegan breakfast in one of his favourite cafés in Dalston. He’s facing the wall but such are his quite astonishing newfound levels of popularity he has already been approached by fans. The 43-year-old headlined at Heaven the night before and social media was duly flooded with videos of admirers genuflecting to him.

What's it like to be famous? "Surreal is the place I would start," he grins, "but quite early on I had a moment where I thought, I got into politics because I love connecting with people and I love community, so actually I’m loving it. Ninety nine per cent of the interactions have been positive," he continues, taking a thoughtful sip of tea with oat milk. “Online is a very different conversation. That's a toxic cesspit... I get homophobic abuse, I get antisemitic abuse, I regularly get death threats..."

It's certainly true that Polanski polarises opinion. It's also the case that he might just be the most exciting politician of his generation. He became a member of the London Assembly in 2021, but his cut-through since becoming leader of the Green Party last September has been remarkable. Membership has more than tripled to 184,000, putting the once fringe party ahead of the Conservatives.

His message of "eco-populism" with calls to tax the rich, improve housing, address the cost-of-living crisis and a hard line on Israel and Gaza delivered with his clever slogan, "Let's make hope normal again" has cut through to the places other politicians can’t seem to reach.

His weekly podcast, Bold Politics with Zack Polanski-guests have included Ash Sarkar, Gary Stevenson and Owen Jones - is a smash hit. He writes all his own social media posts and says he receives 29 million views on Instagram in a month.