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The primary purpose of the Green Party Leader is to provide visionary leadership and direction for the party. This involves shaping and articulating the party’s policies, values, and goals to both internal and external audiences, thereby ensuring a coherent and compelling message. Additionally, the Party Leader plays a crucial role in supporting election candidates and local parties, guiding political strategy, and maintaining strong relationships with party members, staff, and other key stakeholders. The Party Leader’s work is pivotal in fostering morale and unity across all levels of the Green Party.
The Candidates
Ellie Chowns & Adrian Ramsay
Contact Details
We’ve come so far together!
Knocking on doors, delivering leaflets, hosting a local meeting or sharing a cuppa with friends to talk politics — we’ve all played our part in growing this movement. Like so many of you, we’ve put in the time and energy to give people a real alternative. Not because it was easy, but because it mattered.
Together we’ve faced down cynicism to achieve historic wins in the past four years, quadrupling our MPs and doubling our councillors. The Green Party has higher favourability ratings than any other party in Britain, and concerns about climate and nature are among the top public concerns.
Leadership to win
We’re standing to be co-leaders because this is a defining moment.
After years of catastrophic Conservative misrule, Labour has abandoned its principles and lost its voters, failing to tax extreme wealth, protect nature, or support the most vulnerable.
Reform are cynically hijacking people’s concerns and weaponising them into hate. Many people have lost hope in politics altogether.
We’ve proven time and again that the Green Party is the answer to that despair.
For the first time, we’re within reach of something even bigger: electing enough Green MPs to shape the next government.
We’ve both overturned huge majorities in “unwinnable” seats. And we did this by reaching out to engage the huge numbers of people disillusioned with the other parties and looking for those that speak for them on issues such as climate, inequality and support for public services.
We’ve proven we can inspire teams, grow trust and deliver results.
Caroline Lucas, former MP and Green Party Leader:
“I believe it’s more effective if the leadership of the party comes from within our team of MPs. They remind people on a daily basis that Greens are winning power at the highest level, and exercising it for the public good. Ellie and Adrian make a formidable team — bold and brave, passionate and principled, and both committed to a huge step change in how the Party operates and to bringing the party together.”
Turning values into power
We believe Green leadership must do two things: stay true to our values and win real power to put them into action.
As lifelong campaigners for social and environmental justice with strong track records of building the broad support needed to win elections, that’s the leadership we offer.
Our values — fairness, compassion, the courage to speak truth to power — resonate with people in every community. We’ve heard this on the doorstep and seen it at the ballot box.
As MPs, we use our platform in Parliament every day to challenge injustice and champion change. We’re insurgents with integrity, campaigners with a Parliamentary platform and the national voice that comes with it. With the day-to-day experience of using the media powerfully to share our Green message.
We are proud to stand for a Green Party that is:
- Ambitious about winning
To elect enough Green MPs to help shape the next government we must keep building a broad coalition of voters, reaching far beyond our traditional base. That’s exactly what we’ve shown we know how to do. - Rooted in every community
Green values speak to people everywhere — from inner-city estates to rural villages. Now we need to support local teams with the tools, resources, and confidence to win, while growing a new generation of diverse candidates that reflect the communities we serve. - Listening and learning
We won our seats by listening to people’s concerns, and understanding them. Trust is built through honest conversations. That’s how we’ll keep growing — by staying close to people’s lives and clear about how Green policies can make them better. - Built to last
We want to help build a party that’s welcoming, inclusive, democratic and resilient, and where our culture is rooted in mutual respect and shared goals.
Cllr Amanda Onwuemene, Co-Chair Global Majority Greens:
“Adrian and Ellie are experienced as councillors and MPs. We need courageous politicians to unite, grow and strengthen the party as we focus on environmental and social justice policies.”
The right leadership at the right time
Between us, we’ve spent decades working for a fairer, greener world — combining grassroots activism with real-world leadership.
- Ellie’s journey has taken her from supporting peacebuilders in Uganda to tackling fuel poverty in London. She’s worked in social justice and international development, defended the right to protest, and served as a Green councillor running a Council and as an MEP before winning her seat as an MP with one of the biggest ever swings at a general election
- Adrian joined the Greens at 16, became one of the UK’s youngest councillors, and grew Norwich’s Green group into one of the biggest in the country. He’s led national environmental charities through change and growth, always focused on turning values into impact.
We’ve led in our communities and in the corridors of power, aiming to bring power back into our communities for them to thrive.
Cllr Graham Golding, Knowsley Borough Council:
“As a councillor in a Labour heartland, I know Ellie and Adrian have what it takes to bring the party’s message to working-class voters. As MPs they are in a prime position to take on Keir Starmer and his failing government!”
Together, we win
We know how to bring people with us across backgrounds and generations. We’re asking you to work with us to build a party with integrity, with clear ambition and a plan to grow. Because it’s not about us, it’s about all of us.
We know what’s possible because we’ve seen it, and helped make it happen.
With trust, courage, and determination — together, we win.
Cllr Tony Dyer, Leader of Bristol City Council:
“As a leader of a major city, I know it’s critically important to have elected Greens in the room where decisions are made. Adrian designed our election winning strategy and Ellie achieved one of the biggest swings in electoral history in 2024. They are experts in winning.”
Zack Polanski
People are calling out for the Green Party. It’s time for us to step up and deliver:
- A party of environmental, racial, social and economic justice.
- A party that represents diverse communities in the corridors of power.
- A party that speaks with clarity, confidence and compassion.
- A party with bold leadership that can cut through.
I’m Zack Polanski. Deputy Leader of the Green Party and experienced London Assembly Member.
Politics hasn’t always been my plan. I was born in Manchester, studied in Aberystwyth, and worked in schools, prisons, nightclubs and cafes to get by. Some of my proudest work was while I was in community theatre amplifying marginalised voices long before I spoke in the Assembly Chamber or on the news.
I’m Jewish, gay, and I’ve campaigned shoulder to shoulder with thousands of Green members for over a decade. I’ve joined you on marches for Palestine, to fight for Proportional Representation, and regularly travelled across England & Wales to join you on the doorstep, getting Greens elected.
I’ve chaired London’s Environment Committee, leading on clean air, water quality and climate resilience. I’ve challenged the London Mayor on everything from policing to workers’ rights. Worked collaboratively across party lines to win support for the Climate and Nature Emergency Bill and Ella’s ‘Clean Air’ Law.
At the General Election last year, I supported strategy behind the scenes, campaigned on the ground in all our targets and did my part in the media to get others elected. I’m delighted with the result that we all achieved – and now it’s time for us to scale up and diversify our future representation.
I’m asking for your first preference vote, so that you can get:
- A leader with the time to focus on your local party, your local community and our future MPs.
- A visible, and engaging voice who national media pay attention to
- A leader who connects with people beyond our core base – welcoming in voters and supporters from backgrounds that the Greens have always struggled to connect with
- A leader who raises up other voices and who will build the next generation of Green leaders
We’ve all worked hard to show we can win – 4 MPs, 3 London Assembly Members and 850+ councillors. But the crises we face are moving too fast to be content with slow and steady.
The only way to scale up our success is to be visible and to vote for effective leadership that speaks to the challenges of now. For someone who excites the voters we need to win big against this unpopular Labour government and the threat of Farage.
I’ll be a leader who listens, leads from the front, and amplifies others. A leader who brings people in, who organises and works hard every day to make change happen.
Let’s grow this movement. Let’s be bolder about how many MPs we can win. Let’s build a Green Party that speaks to millions and wins the change our communities and our planet so urgently need.
Back Zack Polanski for Leader.
What people are saying about Zack Polanski:
Miles Thorpe, Campaign Manager for Carla Denyer MP 2024
“I think it’s important for people to know that when we made strategic decisions I always wanted Zack in the room. It was often Zack who would provide sound judgement and lead discussions in meetings behind the scenes.”
Liv Morgan, Campaign Manager for Sian Berry MP 2024
“It was instantly clear to me just how skilled of a speaker Zack is. His ability to inspire really diverse communities of people with such ease is such a valuable skill.”
Tilly Green, Communications Officer for Carla Denyer MP 2024
“We’ve already seen the difference Zack can make in the media. He understands narrative like no one else in the party – and he is the only candidate who can lead the step-up in our comms that we need.”
Anthony Slaughter, Leader of Wales Green Party
“In Wales we are poised to make a Green breakthrough in the Senedd. Zack is what we need to take us to that next level.”
George Monbiot, Journalist and Author
“Zack is correct, the Greens could be huge here, but only if they are bolder.”
Grace Blakeley, Journalist and Author
“Our politics is broken. That’s why I’ve joined the Green Party to vote for Zack. Be part of the movement!”
Shabir Fazal, Hyndburn (Lancashire) Councillor
“Zack engages with anybody and everybody to make them feel comfortable. Whether you are 6, 16 or 60, whatever your religion, wherever you’re from. He’s exactly what we need.”
James Meadway, former advisor to the Shadow Chancellor
“Zack is making a bold claim to the form of politics our chaotic times demand.”
Benali Hamdache, Islington Opposition Leader and former London Campaign Manager
“I was campaign manager on London’s most successful campaign for the Assembly. Zack is a team player and willing to be bold. He’s what we need to deliver more Green MPs.”
Leda Schiltz, former Campaign Organiser of Brighton and Hove
“Zack is a leader who can speak to the deep frustrations in our rural towns and the growing hunger for real change in our cities. I’ve seen how Zack shows up.”
Stuart Jeffrey, Leader of Maidstone Borough Council
“Zack speaks with the level of clarity and precision needed to cut through the Reform dominated media in a way we have not seen before.”
Paul Powlesland, Founder of Lawyers for Nature
“I’m really pleased to back Zack as his campaign is focused on justice. Not just human rights. But also rights for nature too.”
Naomi Bennett, Cambridge City Councillor
“Zack’s been the heart of the party, now let’s make him the head.”
Tor Pingree, Worcestershire County Councillor & Deputy Mayor of Worcester
“Zack has a way of speaking that makes people stop and listen. He’s not afraid to stand up and speak up about what is right, even when others refuse to do so. Zack has ambitious plans for the future and he makes you want to be a part of it.”
