Reacting to Keir Starmer’s speech to the Labour Party conference today in Liverpool, Green Party leader, Zack Polanski, said:

“Keir Starmer’s speech lacked substance and direction and provided yet another example of Labour benchmarking itself against Reform.

“They have no real solutions to address people’s concerns around economic insecurity, falling living standards and public service cuts.

“This government ignores the climate crisis and continues to arm the genocidal Israeli regime.

“These are not the actions of a serious government delivering for our country. They are the actions of a government that is out of touch and out of ideas, full of empty words and desperately reaching to be re-elected.

“It is time for bold ideas and bold leadership: a wealth tax on the super rich, investment in public services and action to defend the NHS. And a time for making the correct choices such as scrapping the two child benefit cap to lift children out of poverty and bringing water back into public ownership.

“The Green Party is ready transform this country by offering a bold, positive alternative to a failing Labour government. One with clear action and delivery.”

Green Party leader, Zack Polanski, has been included in this year’s Time100 Next list, an annual list naming the 100 leaders shaping the future of business, entertainment, sports, politics, health, science and activism.

Zack Polanski said: 

“I feel hugely honoured to receive this recognition. But this isn’t about me, it is about the movement we are building together. This week we are holding our biggest and boldest conference ever. It comes as our membership has surged past a record 80,000 and as we reach touching distance of the old political parties in the polls. I am having influence because we are growing. We are growing because we are unapologetic about demanding real change: taxing the super-rich, funding our NHS, and tackling the climate crisis head-on.  

“Contrast this to Keir Starmer. Someone who has compromised himself so many times now that I don’t think even he knows what he stands for. This is likely to be his last conference as PM. And Greens with their rising influence and bold politics stand ready to replace Labour’s tired ideas and stale politicians.” 

Reacting to Labour members backing an emergency motion declaring that the Israeli government is committing genocide in Gaza, Co-Deputy Leader of the Green Party, Mothin Ali, said: 

“By agreeing that the Israeli regime is committing genocide in Gaza, Labour members have exposed their leadership for not only denying what the UN Independent International Commission of Inquiry concluded, and most of the public believe, but also of complicity by continuing to arm Israel.

“Keir Starmer and his ministers must not waste another second in calling out this act of genocide, end immediately the supply of all arms to Israel and impose strict sanctions on the country. It is clear from today’s motion, passed by a majority of Labour members, that conference would be the right time and place to do this.”

Reacting to chancellor Rachel Reeves speech to Labour Party conference in Liverpool, Green Party leader Zack Polanski said:

“Rachel Reeves came to conference four years ago promising £28bn a year for green jobs. Today, all Labour can offer is platitudes. 

“This is not leadership, it’s managed decline. And while ordinary people are told there’s no money, Labour are rolling out the red carpet for the super-rich. Literally selling £50,000 lunches with ministers. That’s not a party of the people for the many, that’s a party auctioning itself off to the highest bidders while it continues to ask the most vulnerable to plug the gap.

“Rightly, people will be asking why they are being asked to pay more when the very rich continue to get wealthier and some of them get to wine and dine inside the Labour Party conference.

“Britain doesn’t need timid half-measures or cosy deals with the wealthy few. We need bold, unapologetic investment in climate action, green jobs, and public services. Increasingly, it’s obvious, only the Greens are willing to fight for that future.”

Responding to a Labour Party conference fringe event that concluded “Labour must ‘get over squeamishness’ about attacking Greens”, Green Party Co–Deputy Leader, Mothin Ali, said:

“My free advice to Labour is to stop attacking and start listening. Stop attacking communities that are made up of people living and working here, and who were born abroad. Stop obsessively trying to “attack” your political opponents.

“Instead, start listening. Listen to people who are struggling to survive on disability benefits before cutting them. Listen to parents struggling with the cost of living and the experts who say scrapping the two-child benefit cap is the most cost-effective way of addressing child poverty. And listen to all of us who have been calling out the unfolding genocide in Gaza for the last two years.

“Like many, Labour left me behind, and I found a new home in the Greens. I am now focusing all my energy on growing the Green movement. We have a record membership, a record number of Cllrs and MPs and are hitting record levels in the polls. This is what I’m focused on.”