Zack Polanski, the leader of the Green Party in England and Wales, has declared he would support Scottish independence if he were Scottish, insisting that another referendum on the breakup of the United Kingdom should be permitted.
Polanski's remarks on Scotland's treatment
Speaking at an event in Glasgow on Thursday evening, Polanski claimed Scotland had been 'screwed over by Westminster governments for a long time'. He argued this has contributed to a 'Green surge' in politics north of the border, coinciding with a global rise in popularity of 'eco-socialism'.
Polanski highlighted the cost of living crisis, describing it as a 'toxic combination of low wages and high bills' that is 'hitting people really hard'. He added: 'If I was Scottish I would vote for independence. I would look at what this Government has done and how it has treated Scotland.'
Right to self-determination
The Green leader asserted that the UK Government keeping Scotland in the UK 'against their own will, not to be able to have an independence referendum, is not good for Scotland'. He emphasised: 'We should make sure everyone has their right to decide the models of their country, and decide who and what their country is and how it is governed.'
Polanski criticised Health Secretary Wes Streeting, who recently made clear that the UK Government would refuse a second Scottish independence referendum, even if the SNP wins a majority in the Scottish Parliament elections on 7 May. 'Who the hell does Wes Streeting think he is?' Polanski asked, accusing the Labour Cabinet minister of treating Scots 'like you were children'.
Green Party growth
Since being elected leader in September last year, Polanski has overseen a surge in support for the Greens in England and Wales, with party membership now at 225,000. He claimed this includes 'a huge surge from the Labour Party of disillusioned Labour members'. Meanwhile, the pro-independence Scottish Greens have more than 10,000 members.
Polanski likened the 'eco-socialism' offered by his party and the Scottish Greens to the success of politicians like New York's left-wing mayor Zohran Mamdani, a Democrat elected in November last year. He told the audience: 'It's happening south of the border, here, it's happening with the Scottish Greens, it's happening with Zohran Mamdani in New York.'
Learning from New York
It was revealed this week that Polanski has met with Mamdani's campaign team in hopes of replicating his success. Reports indicate he held talks with Mamdani's aides in recent weeks to boost his social media strategy, focusing on how Mamdani used 'high-quality video content' to drive his 'tax the rich' campaigning.
