#Tag · bonfire.cafe

#ZackPolanski #MattGoodwin #GortonAndDenton #GBNews #Greens #GreenParty #GPEW #ReformUK #UKPOL #UKPOLITICS #Rascism #WhiteNationalism #Fascism #AntiFascism

29mago 17.31 GMT

Afternoon summary
Matt Goodwin, the GB News presenter and former academic named today
as Reform UK’s candidate in the Gorton and Denton byelection, has
refused to disown his claim that UK-born people from minority ethnic
‘backgrounds are not necessarily British. The Green party leader, Zack
Polanski, said that, by choosing Goodwin as a candidate, Reform were
turning the byelection into “a straight contest between hope and hate”. He
went on:

44 The Green party will be out campaigning every day, to improve the cost of

living by taxing the super rich.

We alone will be taking the fight to Reform, whose selection of a man with a

track record of anti-Muslim bigotry in a community with a good history of

community relations is an insult to the people of Gorton and Denton.

It tells you everything you need to know that Reform are parachuting in this

rent-an-extremist; this isn’t about representing the people of Gorton and

Genton, it’s about using this place as a platform for their careers. — 29mago 17.31 GMT Afternoon summary Matt Goodwin, the GB News presenter and former academic named today as Reform UK’s candidate in the Gorton and Denton byelection, has refused to disown his claim that UK-born people from minority ethnic ‘backgrounds are not necessarily British. The Green party leader, Zack Polanski, said that, by choosing Goodwin as a candidate, Reform were turning the byelection into “a straight contest between hope and hate”. He went on: 44 The Green party will be out campaigning every day, to improve the cost of living by taxing the super rich. We alone will be taking the fight to Reform, whose selection of a man with a track record of anti-Muslim bigotry in a community with a good history of community relations is an insult to the people of Gorton and Denton. It tells you everything you need to know that Reform are parachuting in this rent-an-extremist; this isn’t about representing the people of Gorton and Genton, it’s about using this place as a platform for their careers.

Lazarou Monkey Terror 🚀💙🌈

@Lazarou@mastodon.social · 4 weeks ago

#ZackPolanski #MattGoodwin #GortonAndDenton #GBNews #Greens #GreenParty #GPEW #ReformUK #UKPOL #UKPOLITICS #Rascism #WhiteNationalism #Fascism #AntiFascism

Chip Butty boosted

2legged

@2legged@mastodon.ie · 4 weeks ago

Happy Sunday, as the UK's so-called " #LabourParty" blocks #AndyBurnham's return to the #HouseOfCommons. 👍

#UKLabour's National Executive Commitee has refused #Burnham's request to be allowed to apply to be the by-election candidate in #GortonAndDenton.

Blocking the party's most popular man will

1/ start a huge row in the #RedTories, between fans of hard-right #Starmer and fans of soggy centrist #Burnham.

2/ hand the seat to #GPEW leader #ZackPolanski.

Great work, Starmer! 😈 😂 🤣 #Popcorn

Photonof Andy Burnham.

Below his face, a caution in large red text reads "blocked" — Photonof Andy Burnham. Below his face, a caution in large red text reads "blocked"

2legged

@2legged@mastodon.ie · 4 weeks ago

Happy Sunday, as the UK's so-called " #LabourParty" blocks #AndyBurnham's return to the #HouseOfCommons. 👍

#UKLabour's National Executive Commitee has refused #Burnham's request to be allowed to apply to be the by-election candidate in #GortonAndDenton.

Blocking the party's most popular man will

1/ start a huge row in the #RedTories, between fans of hard-right #Starmer and fans of soggy centrist #Burnham.

2/ hand the seat to #GPEW leader #ZackPolanski.

Great work, Starmer! 😈 😂 🤣 #Popcorn

Pauline von Hellermann

@pvonhellermannn@mastodon.green · last month

#FollowTheMoney 🧵 81/n From Foreign Correspondent to Uber Driver

This is an incredible, moving personal perspective on this system that we are all entangled in, that shifts money to the few away from the rest of us at accelerating rate.

Having also experienced #Redundancy not too long ago and still very much in the doldrums of short term, part time jobs, this resonates deeply. So many are going through this, we need to help each other. #Precarity

https://open.substack.com/pub/stevescherer/p/my-journey-from-foreign-correspondent?r=4ug8&utm_medium=ios&shareImageVariant=overlay

My journey from foreign correspondent to Uber driver in Trump's America

I once documented human displacement and desperation; now I am living it

Pauline von Hellermann

@pvonhellermannn@mastodon.green · last month

#FollowTheMoney 🧵 82/n In the UK, the best thing you can do to try and mobilise against rising inequality is to join the Green Party!

This new campaign video by #ZackPolanski is brilliant. This too, reaonated deeply - this is me right now. We need to find ways to collectively stop running and pause!

https://youtu.be/bF_a_w7Dozo?si=ppSHwPEic6Zy4qH2

Strypey

@strypey@mastodon.nzoss.nz · last month

"For all the US' problems, this could never have happened in the US. Because of their First Amendment rights. But in our [UK] system, Parliament is sovereign, and it can basically do what it likes."

#LewisGoodall, 2025

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XsNRFTfK0fw

... and the same is true of the NZ Parliament.

#podcasts #BoldPolitics #Bold #ZackPolanski #FreedomOfExpression #FirstAmendment

stefania maurizi

@smaurizi@mastodon.social · last month

this declaration by UK GreenParty leader #ZackPolanski is explosive

Imagine if a major Italian party said: #Italy must close #USbases.
"Italy is home to the most comprehensive set of military capabilities [...] that we [US] have anywhere outside US", #WikiLeaks cables reveal

Matt

@matt@oslo.town · 3 months ago

Watched the Bloomberg Podcast where they interviewed racist shit-stirring gremlin and potential next Prime Minister of the UK, Nigel Farage.

It's not often he does such long interviews so it was interesting to hear him answer questions and observe his sneaky demeanour or snide remarks to the host.

Anyway, would love to see Mishal Husain interview Green Party's Zack Polanski too.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2uq_RRQxBAM

#Bloomberg #UKpol #Politics #NigelFarage #ZackPolanski #MishalHusain #GreensUK

Strypey

@strypey@mastodon.nzoss.nz · 4 months ago

"... add up the value of everything you own and minus your debts. Could you live on that for the rest of your life? ... If not, you're part of the big we, right? You're part of the movement, you're the 99%. If you can live off it for the rest of your life, we're coming for you."

#AshSarkar, 2025
https://shows.acast.com/bold-politics-with-zack-polanski/episodes/68b71504093397eb05dee4e5

This is a great interview. Lot's of insights I think are relevant to the social democratic left here too.

#podcasts #BoldPolitics #ZackPolanski #WeAreThe99%

hypebot and 1 other boosted

Pauline von Hellermann

@pvonhellermannn@mastodon.green · 4 months ago

#ClimateDiary The UK #GreenParty now has over 150,000 members- ie we have more than doubled our membership since #ZackPolanski became leader on 2nd September - overtaking first the LibDems, then the Conservatives (who have 124,000) last weekend. I am too tired at the moment to get truly excited, and it’s only the beginning - so much work, so much organising to be done by all of us- but it’s quite something. #UKPolitics

Dark green poster with light green writing

150,000
Green Party Members

Promoted by Chris Williams on behalf of The Green Party, both at PO Box 78066, London SE16 9GQ — Dark green poster with light green writing 150,000 Green Party Members Promoted by Chris Williams on behalf of The Green Party, both at PO Box 78066, London SE16 9GQ

Pauline von Hellermann

@pvonhellermannn@mastodon.green · 4 months ago

Lazarou Monkey Terror 🚀💙🌈

@Lazarou@mastodon.social · 4 months ago

Malone claimed Polanski couldn’t have an opinion on women’s rights because he’s not a woman.

Polanski perfectly highlighted the ludicrous nature of this statement by pointing out that by this logic, Malone couldn’t have opinions about trans rights because she isn’t trans.

Praising how he dealt with the situation, one person wrote on X: “Calmly make solid points & they’ll rant, & shout & seethe as the mask just slides right off.”

https://www.thelondoneconomic.com/politics/zack-polanski-carole-malone-jeremy-vine-show-399314/

#ZackPolanski #UKPOL #UKPOLITICS

The London Economic

Zack Polanski prompts right-winger meltdown on live TV

Zack Polanski prompted a right-wing meltdown from Daily Express columnist Carol Malone on national TV.

Lazarou Monkey Terror 🚀💙🌈

@Lazarou@mastodon.social · 5 months ago

A positive vision of Britain that doesn't involve waving flags mindlessly like MAGA Americans!

#GPEW #UKPOL #UKPOLITICS #ZackPolanski #Polanski

3nago 14.21 BST

Polanski says Britain at its best when it's thoughtful,
considerate, kind’

Polanski ends with a story about a visit to a bakery that employs ex-
offenders.

44 I'want to end on a tiny moment, a small gesture but it’s something that’s
really stuck with me in this month. I went to visit the Dusty Knuckle near where
Ilive in Hackney.

It’s a bakery that employs people who have just come out of prison. Mentors go
to visit people just before they leave and smooth over a transition process to a
fresh start in life. It was an amazing visit where I was humbled to spend time
talking to so many different people each with their own different story.

The one that struck me though was a man who said it was his first day out of
prison. He arrived - terrified of this new life. He was a little late because it had
been years since he'd used public transport and there was a cup of tea waiting
for him. Someone knowing he was going to be late - had made the time to make
a stranger a cup of tea. A simple act of kindness from one stranger to another.
That’s what this country is when it’s at it’s best. And that matters today of all
days. It’s thoughtful, it’s considerate and it’s kind.

This May is huge - hateful, divisive politics is on the ballot paper. We can and
must reject that.

Let’s instead look after each other. The Green party’s moment is now. Let’s go.
And that’s it. — 3nago 14.21 BST Polanski says Britain at its best when it's thoughtful, considerate, kind’ Polanski ends with a story about a visit to a bakery that employs ex- offenders. 44 I'want to end on a tiny moment, a small gesture but it’s something that’s really stuck with me in this month. I went to visit the Dusty Knuckle near where Ilive in Hackney. It’s a bakery that employs people who have just come out of prison. Mentors go to visit people just before they leave and smooth over a transition process to a fresh start in life. It was an amazing visit where I was humbled to spend time talking to so many different people each with their own different story. The one that struck me though was a man who said it was his first day out of prison. He arrived - terrified of this new life. He was a little late because it had been years since he'd used public transport and there was a cup of tea waiting for him. Someone knowing he was going to be late - had made the time to make a stranger a cup of tea. A simple act of kindness from one stranger to another. That’s what this country is when it’s at it’s best. And that matters today of all days. It’s thoughtful, it’s considerate and it’s kind. This May is huge - hateful, divisive politics is on the ballot paper. We can and must reject that. Let’s instead look after each other. The Green party’s moment is now. Let’s go. And that’s it.

Lazarou Monkey Terror 🚀💙🌈

@Lazarou@mastodon.social · 5 months ago

This is pretty much the same conclusion Greta Thunberg came too, and why the Media suddenly soured on her
She's right and so is Zack, the Media is not our friend.

#GPEW #UKPOL #UKPOLITICS #ZackPolanski #Polanski #ClimateChange #Inequality #GretaThunberg

3nago 1414857

Polanski says Greens can't be effective environmentalists
without talking about inequality

Polanski turns to the climate.

He says he is often asked if the Green party is an environmental movement or
a social justice movement.

44 As if you can’t speak up for our working class or LGBT+ communities at the
same time as challenging fossil fuel companies. Lets clear this up. You can’t be
an effective environmentalist without talking about the deep inequality in our
society.

The climate crisis is also the cost of living crisis and will hit the poorest
communities hardest. Food inflation is made worse by climate breakdown.

We live in one of the most nature depleted countries in the world - and we have
just had the hottest summer on record.

Labour made a pledge for £28bn on Green investment before the election. They
ditched it before they even got a sniff of power. — 3nago 1414857 Polanski says Greens can't be effective environmentalists without talking about inequality Polanski turns to the climate. He says he is often asked if the Green party is an environmental movement or a social justice movement. 44 As if you can’t speak up for our working class or LGBT+ communities at the same time as challenging fossil fuel companies. Lets clear this up. You can’t be an effective environmentalist without talking about the deep inequality in our society. The climate crisis is also the cost of living crisis and will hit the poorest communities hardest. Food inflation is made worse by climate breakdown. We live in one of the most nature depleted countries in the world - and we have just had the hottest summer on record. Labour made a pledge for £28bn on Green investment before the election. They ditched it before they even got a sniff of power.

Lazarou Monkey Terror 🚀💙🌈

@Lazarou@mastodon.social · 5 months ago

#GPEW #UKPOL #UKPOLITICS #ZackPolanski #Polanski #KemiBadenoch #EdDavey #NigelFarage #Farage #Starmer #KeirStarmer

2hago 15.33BST

And these are from my colleague Peter Walker, who was listening to Zack
Polanski’s speech in the conference hall in Bournemouth.

44 Polanski did describe himself (sort of) as an “eco populist”, but he’s a
curious sort of populist - quite gentle, without the very obvious ego and brazen
public front you'd normally associate with the idea. But he’s a very good public
speaker.

44 He has just described how his ancestors arrived in England from Latvia via
Ukraine and Poland, fleeing pogroms but still facing antisemitism in the UK.
Polanski explains how he thus changed his surname back from the anglicised
“Paulden” they adopted.

44 That speech was quite light on specific Green policies but it’s clear that
Polanski is a *much* more effective public speaker than Starmer, Badenoch or
Davey, & possibly on a par (albeit v differently) to Farage. It’s no wonder
Labour are privately pretty worried about possible losses to the Greens. — 2hago 15.33BST And these are from my colleague Peter Walker, who was listening to Zack Polanski’s speech in the conference hall in Bournemouth. 44 Polanski did describe himself (sort of) as an “eco populist”, but he’s a curious sort of populist - quite gentle, without the very obvious ego and brazen public front you'd normally associate with the idea. But he’s a very good public speaker. 44 He has just described how his ancestors arrived in England from Latvia via Ukraine and Poland, fleeing pogroms but still facing antisemitism in the UK. Polanski explains how he thus changed his surname back from the anglicised “Paulden” they adopted. 44 That speech was quite light on specific Green policies but it’s clear that Polanski is a *much* more effective public speaker than Starmer, Badenoch or Davey, & possibly on a par (albeit v differently) to Farage. It’s no wonder Labour are privately pretty worried about possible losses to the Greens.

Lazarou Monkey Terror 🚀💙🌈

@Lazarou@mastodon.social · 5 months ago

A positive vision of Britain that doesn't involve waving flags mindlessly like MAGA Americans!

#GPEW #UKPOL #UKPOLITICS #ZackPolanski #Polanski

Lazarou Monkey Terror 🚀💙🌈

@Lazarou@mastodon.social · 5 months ago

#GPEW #UKPOL #UKPOLITICS #Wales #Cymru

hago 1616 8ST

'Unrestrained capitalism’ biggest threat to culture and language
in Wales, says Welsh Green leader

Andrew Slaughter, the Green party’s leader in Wales, is speaking at the
conference now.

He says Labour promised change at the last election, but the defining
emotion people feel now is fear, he says.

44 After promising change, this Labour government has snuffed out every hope
people had for it. People were desperate for that hope when they voted last
year. But Labour lied.

Imeet diehard Labour voters every day who tell me, never again. A common
refrain is that what this government is doing is even worse than the Tories.
Their longtime voters can see this clearly now, and they are rightly furious.
Slaughter says the Greens should be taking on “the corporations and the
billionaires that are robbing us blind”.

44 We always thought the Tories were ones who shovelled public money into the
hands of the rich, but Labour wanted to be even bigger corporate sycophants.
Slaughter says “unrestrained capitalism” is the greatest threat to language
and culture in Wales.

44 The brutal logic of austerity has decimated our social fabric across the
board, but it’s also undermining the very foundations of who we are.

But unrestrained capitalism is the same hostile force that working people have
fought for centuries.

Slaughter says he has seen this in the housing sector, and that is why the
Greens will fight for renters’ rights. — hago 1616 8ST 'Unrestrained capitalism’ biggest threat to culture and language in Wales, says Welsh Green leader Andrew Slaughter, the Green party’s leader in Wales, is speaking at the conference now. He says Labour promised change at the last election, but the defining emotion people feel now is fear, he says. 44 After promising change, this Labour government has snuffed out every hope people had for it. People were desperate for that hope when they voted last year. But Labour lied. Imeet diehard Labour voters every day who tell me, never again. A common refrain is that what this government is doing is even worse than the Tories. Their longtime voters can see this clearly now, and they are rightly furious. Slaughter says the Greens should be taking on “the corporations and the billionaires that are robbing us blind”. 44 We always thought the Tories were ones who shovelled public money into the hands of the rich, but Labour wanted to be even bigger corporate sycophants. Slaughter says “unrestrained capitalism” is the greatest threat to language and culture in Wales. 44 The brutal logic of austerity has decimated our social fabric across the board, but it’s also undermining the very foundations of who we are. But unrestrained capitalism is the same hostile force that working people have fought for centuries. Slaughter says he has seen this in the housing sector, and that is why the Greens will fight for renters’ rights.

Lazarou Monkey Terror 🚀💙🌈

@Lazarou@mastodon.social · 5 months ago

#GPEW #UKPOL #UKPOLITICS #ZackPolanski #Polanski #KemiBadenoch #EdDavey #NigelFarage #Farage #Starmer #KeirStarmer

Lazarou Monkey Terror 🚀💙🌈

@Lazarou@mastodon.social · 5 months ago

GO ZACK!

#ZackPolanski #Polanski #GPEW #UKPOL #UKPOLITICS #TaxTheRich #NoBillionaires

UK political class ‘poisoned by wealth’, says
Zack Polanski as he sets out plan to tax assets
of richest 1% - UK politics live

Green party leader says a ‘tiny few have taken our wealth

and power’ in address to Green party conference — UK political class ‘poisoned by wealth’, says Zack Polanski as he sets out plan to tax assets of richest 1% - UK politics live Green party leader says a ‘tiny few have taken our wealth and power’ in address to Green party conference

Lazarou Monkey Terror 🚀💙🌈

@Lazarou@mastodon.social · 5 months ago

#ZackPolanski #Polanski #GPEW #UKPOL #UKPOLITICS #ReformUK #YourParty #WealthTax #ClimateChange

3 media

46mago 16.29 8ST

Luke Tryl, a polling expert and More in Common UK director, has posted a
thread on Bluesky with some thoughts on Zack Polanski’s speech. His
comments are here, but you will need to read the thread to see all the charts
he has included.

44 Thoughts on Polanski speech: his pledge to “end rip off Britain” is closest to
chiming with public mood on the cost of living of leaders speeches yet. The sense
essentials, let alone treats are unaffordable & govt is unable/unwilling to tackle
it epitomises broken Britain mood

44 It’s also a message that resonates squarely with Polanski’s own voters, Green
voters along with Reform UK voters are the most likely to think we need to let
our institutions ‘burn’ and also the least likely to think that higher GDP growth
benefits people like them

44 Clearly his pitch is the ‘anti-system left’ designed to win support to Labour’s
left - and it’s pretty striking that when you look at the current VI of Green Party
voters, a plurality are those who voted for Jeremy Corbyn’s Labour in 2019.

44 Green supporters are younger than voters as a whole, and more female.
They are particularly likely to be animated by climate (unsurprisingly) and
housing compared to the wider public. — 46mago 16.29 8ST Luke Tryl, a polling expert and More in Common UK director, has posted a thread on Bluesky with some thoughts on Zack Polanski’s speech. His comments are here, but you will need to read the thread to see all the charts he has included. 44 Thoughts on Polanski speech: his pledge to “end rip off Britain” is closest to chiming with public mood on the cost of living of leaders speeches yet. The sense essentials, let alone treats are unaffordable & govt is unable/unwilling to tackle it epitomises broken Britain mood 44 It’s also a message that resonates squarely with Polanski’s own voters, Green voters along with Reform UK voters are the most likely to think we need to let our institutions ‘burn’ and also the least likely to think that higher GDP growth benefits people like them 44 Clearly his pitch is the ‘anti-system left’ designed to win support to Labour’s left - and it’s pretty striking that when you look at the current VI of Green Party voters, a plurality are those who voted for Jeremy Corbyn’s Labour in 2019. 44 Green supporters are younger than voters as a whole, and more female. They are particularly likely to be animated by climate (unsurprisingly) and housing compared to the wider public.

44 The idea of a wealth tax is popular across the board, though it is worth
stressing this is highly hypothetical and as with Digital ID, when the debate
became real with winners/losers and cost/benefit estimates this could shift
significantly.

44 Risks of Polanski’s approach? His embrace of a much more open immigration
policy isn’t backed by most voters - even green voters are more likely to say
reduce than increase (though by a smaller margin). That said there clearly is a
more pro-migration minority he could speak to.

44 There’s also a question whether the eco-populism pitch deters those who
were voting green for the eco bit. On balance I think the Green's future lies in
challenging Labour to the left, but it might make it harder to hold e.g. the two
rural seats they won in 2024. — 44 The idea of a wealth tax is popular across the board, though it is worth stressing this is highly hypothetical and as with Digital ID, when the debate became real with winners/losers and cost/benefit estimates this could shift significantly. 44 Risks of Polanski’s approach? His embrace of a much more open immigration policy isn’t backed by most voters - even green voters are more likely to say reduce than increase (though by a smaller margin). That said there clearly is a more pro-migration minority he could speak to. 44 There’s also a question whether the eco-populism pitch deters those who were voting green for the eco bit. On balance I think the Green's future lies in challenging Labour to the left, but it might make it harder to hold e.g. the two rural seats they won in 2024.

44 But they obviously face competition in that space on the left - voters are
much more likely to say “Your party’ or the Liberal Democrats are a bigger
threat to Labour on the left than the Green Party

44 But the Green Party have one clear advantage over Your Party - while voters
split on whether they see them as a serious party (38-39) that is far higher than
for Your Party 16-50 and Your Party’s splits have created a bigger opening for
the Greens.

AA The big test for the greens is whether they can take their considerers (who
make up a bigger ratio of their overall vote than any other party) and make
them into voters. Polanski’s command of the attention economy feels like an
important step in doing that. — 44 But they obviously face competition in that space on the left - voters are much more likely to say “Your party’ or the Liberal Democrats are a bigger threat to Labour on the left than the Green Party 44 But the Green Party have one clear advantage over Your Party - while voters split on whether they see them as a serious party (38-39) that is far higher than for Your Party 16-50 and Your Party’s splits have created a bigger opening for the Greens. AA The big test for the greens is whether they can take their considerers (who make up a bigger ratio of their overall vote than any other party) and make them into voters. Polanski’s command of the attention economy feels like an important step in doing that.

Lazarou Monkey Terror 🚀💙🌈

@Lazarou@mastodon.social · 5 months ago

GO ZACK!

#ZackPolanski #Polanski #GPEW #UKPOL #UKPOLITICS #TaxTheRich #NoBillionaires

Lazarou Monkey Terror 🚀💙🌈

@Lazarou@mastodon.social · 5 months ago

Zack Polanski has time to condemn the Fascist riot today, why can't Keir Starmer? Stuck in traffic? Saturday can be a nightmare, huh?

"Solidarity to all communities under attack. We stand together."

That's what we want to hear!

#ZackPolanski #GPEW #UKPOL #UKPOLITICS #UniteTheKingdom #Fascism #Fascist #KeirStarmer #Starmer

Zack Polanski
@zackpolanski.bsky.social
The scenes on our streets are shameful consequences of
decades of austerity - government after government fanning the
flames of anti migration instead of tackling inequality.
We can & must make different choices. Solidarity to all
communities under attack. We stand together.
13 September 2025 at 18:55 © Everybody can reply
370 reposts 23 quotes 1.2K likes — Zack Polanski @zackpolanski.bsky.social The scenes on our streets are shameful consequences of decades of austerity - government after government fanning the flames of anti migration instead of tackling inequality. We can & must make different choices. Solidarity to all communities under attack. We stand together. 13 September 2025 at 18:55 © Everybody can reply 370 reposts 23 quotes 1.2K likes

Matt

@matt@oslo.town · 5 months ago

The Green Party England & Wales is looking for their next generation of MP candidates. If you have ever considered being an MP - you don’t need to even be a member yet - they're offering training, mentoring and support.

https://greenparty.org.uk/path-to-parliament/

#GreenPartyUK #GreenParty #GreenPolitics #UKpol #UKpolitics #UnitedKingdom #Politics #ZackPolanski