{
  "id": 11485070,
  "title": "Polanski’s Greens look for their next opening",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/02/polanskis-greens-look-for-their-next-opening",
  "topic": "world",
  "section": "World",
  "published": "2026-10-02T16:47:59.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "Politico EU",
    "slug": "politico-eu",
    "url": "https://www.politico.eu/article/polanskis-greens-look-for-their-next-opening/"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "Brighton, England — Green leader Zack Polanski has claimed credit for Labour leader Andy Burnham’s recent arrival in No. 10. Now, Polanski is trying to convince people that his party, the Greens, can still do more to move national politics. In his second speech as head of the left-wing populist party, less than a week before his party faces polls in Holborn and St Pancras, Polanski positioned his party as a corrective, not a spoiler.\n\nPolanski urged voters to \"vote Green, and watch Labour move,\" stating that through their sustained pressure and historic wins, the Greens have held the Labour government's worst instincts in check and started to move them in the right direction. Burnham's recent election successes in May's local elections, including the Greens' defections, have accelerated Starmer's exit as prime minister over the summer, leaving many of the things within the Greens' sole purview, such as public ownership, care, and housing.\n\nHowever, Polanski expressed disappointment with Labour's policies, particularly on Gaza, climate, and rent control. He acknowledged that Burnham's presence has made it more challenging for the Green message to resonate with voters. Despite this, the Green leader's galvanizing energy appeared to convince some skeptics.\n\nThe upcoming vote in Holborn and St Pancras will test Polanski's ability to define how the Greens can pressure Labour to move left. Polanski's speech emphasized the importance of rent caps, Palestine Action proscription, and new drilling in oil and gas fields. He stressed the need to clarify the new battleground, particularly in terms of climate action and environmental concerns.\n\nPolanski criticized Labour MPs for failing to support the Palestine Action motion, arguing that they were cowed by fear or malicious attacks in the press. He emphasized that Labour MPs stood up for their principles, while others played politics with the environment. Polanski aims to position the Greens as the full-fat version of Burnham's \"end of neoliberalism\" offering, focusing on the cost-of-living crisis and the environment as key areas to regain support.",
  "summary": "The left-wing populist party nudged Keir Starmer out of office, but now Andy Burnham is drawing satisfied protest voters back to Labour.",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 1,
    "also_reported_by": []
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}