Zack Polanski’s poll approval ratings hit new low amid ‘Zionism is racism’ row

Zack Polanski has fallen to his lowest poll rating as Green leader following a dispute over his party’s "Zionism is racism" policy position.

An Ipsos survey conducted in October revealed that 52 per cent of the public hold an unfavourable view of the Green leader. This represents a six-point rise since September and marks the first time over half the population has held a negative opinion.

Only 16 per cent of respondents held a positive view of Mr Polanski, leaving his overall rating at minus 36, which is the lowest of any national party leader.

Opposition to Mr Polanski is predominantly focused within older age demographics, according to the findings.

However, he has also shed support among under-35s, falling from a net score of plus 16 in April to plus two.

His standing with 2024 Labour voters has similarly collapsed, dropping from a net favourability score of plus seven in April to minus 24 in October.

Keiran Pedley, UK director of politics at Ipsos, said the public had noticed that it had been a “bruising month” for Mr Polanski.

He has faced both internal and external criticism of his leadership after the Green Party conference in Brighton backed a motion describing Zionism as “racism” in a vote Mr Polanski did not take part in.

The decision has seen the leader of the Jewish Greens, Vivien Lichtenstein, call for Mr Polanski to resign and say she is considering leaving the party.

Labour has also issued an ultimatum to local Green groups it is currently in coalition with, telling them to disown the motion or lose the party’s support.

Just days after the conference decision, Mr Polanski suffered a further setback when he was defeated at the Holborn and St Pancras by-election.

The Ipsos poll, conducted in the immediate wake of that by-election, found Andy Burnham remained the only senior UK politician with an overall positive favourability score.

The Prime Minister enjoys a net favourability score of plus eight, while Kemi Badenoch’s score is minus 12 and Sir Ed Davey’s is minus 15.

Reform UK leader Nigel Farage’s overall score is minus 31, with some 56 per cent of people saying they have an unfavourable view of him.

Mr Pedley added: “Andy Burnham appears to be in the ascendancy for the battle for hearts and minds on the left, with 2024 Green voters almost as positive towards him as the leader of the Green Party itself.”

The Ipsos poll surveyed 2,257 British adults online between 9 and 13 October.