The Green Party leader, Zack Polanski, has been forced to return an unlawful donation he made to his own party, a first in UK politics. The donation of £1,539.45 was made in September 2025, three weeks after Polanski was elected as party leader. However, UK electoral law requires that donations only come from individuals on the electoral register, and Polanski was not registered at the time.
Personal Security Concerns Cited
A spokesperson for Polanski told the Financial Times that he was not on the electoral register 'because of personal security concerns.' The spokesperson added: 'When the issue was brought to the national party's attention, the donation was returned.' The Electoral Commission, which can impose civil sanctions for unlawful donations and hold the party and its treasurer liable for criminal offences, said it was 'currently considering' the matter and 'cannot comment further at this time.'
Leadership Success Amid Controversy
Polanski has led the Green Party to record success in the polls, including winning two mayoral contests in London and gaining council seats in the May local elections. He declared the results 'historic' and evidence that 'two party politics is not just dying, it is dead and it is buried.' However, his leadership has been marred by controversies. Earlier this month, he was cleared of failing to pay the correct council tax for his houseboat, explaining in a witness statement that he believed the tax was managed through mooring fees. He also faced scrutiny over his qualifications after claiming to be a spokesperson for the British Red Cross, later apologising for 'using the wrong word.'
Approval Ratings Slump
Polanski's approval ratings fell 14 points in the week following his response to the Golders Green attack, where he shared a social media post criticising police officers for kicking a suspect during arrest. The post was condemned by other politicians and Metropolitan Police Commissioner Sir Mark Rowley. Polanski apologised for 'sharing a tweet in haste,' stating that 'police responses to emergency situations such as these do need later reflection in the right forums, but I accept that social media is not the appropriate channel for doing so.' According to pollster More in Common, his approval ratings fell behind Reform UK's Nigel Farage after the incident.
