Green Party leader Zack Polanski has told delegates at the party’s Autumn Conference in Brighton that a growing Green electoral presence is essential to “pushing and pulling” Prime Minister Andy Burnham’s Labour government toward more progressive policies.
Addressing the conference at the Brighton Centre on 2 October 2026, Mr Polanski argued that the party’s recent successes—including a record membership of 230,000—have turned the Greens into a significant force in national politics. He claimed that the Labour administration’s direction is being actively shaped by the threat of Green gains in both local and parliamentary contests.
A central pillar of Mr Polanski’s speech was the proposal of a “Fair Rents Guarantee.” Under this plan, the Green Party is calling for a three-year emergency brake on private rent increases across the UK. The proposal suggests that annual rent rises should be capped at the lowest of three figures: CPI inflation, average wage growth, or a hard limit of 2%.
Pressure on the Burnham Government
Mr Polanski, who became the sole leader of the party in 2025 following the end of its previous co-leadership model, used his keynote to frame the Greens as the “engine room” for radical policy shifts. He reiterated long-standing demands for the nationalisation of water companies and an immediate end to all new oil and gas extraction, arguing that the current government has been too slow to act on the climate crisis.
The speech comes at a pivotal moment for the party leader, who is currently contesting the high-profile by-election in Holborn and St Pancras. The vote, scheduled for Thursday, 8 October 2026, is being viewed as a significant test of whether the party can maintain the momentum gained from its recent electoral success.
Official details regarding the candidates and polling stations for the upcoming contest have been published by Camden Council, as the party seeks to increase its parliamentary representation.
The leader himself has remained firm, stating that the result will not change his position. He pointed to the party’s broader growth, noting that Green electoral success forces the government to adopt more progressive policies.
The Green Party Autumn Conference continues in Brighton until 4 October, with members expected to vote on further policy motions regarding social housing and public transport subsidies.
