Zack Polanski slumps to worst poll rating as Green Party leader

Zack Polanski’s poll rating has slumped to its lowest level since he become Green leader, after a “bruising” month that saw him heavily criticised over his party’s “Zionism is racism” policy.

That is up six points since September and the first time more than half the population had expressed a negative opinion of him.

Just 16% said they had a positive view of Mr Polanski and his overall rating has fallen to minus 36, the lowest rating of any national party leader.

Much of the opposition to Mr Polanski is concentrated among older groups, the poll suggested.

But he has also lost ground among under-35s, falling from a net score of plus 16 in April to just plus two.

Zack Polanski at the Holborn and St Pancras by-election declaration

Getty

His support among people who voted Labour in 2024 has also plummeted, from a net favourability of plus seven in April to minus 24 in October.

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.

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% 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 October 9 and 13.