Daily Politics from the New Statesman How green is the Green Party?
Mar 31, 2026
Megan Kenyon, political correspondent known for analysis of the Green Party and UK politics, joins to discuss the party's shifting identity. They cover polling surprises on oil and fracking, how energy shocks reshape voter instincts, Zac Polanski's broader economic agenda, tensions between member-led policy and leader-driven strategy, and the impact of recent local wins on Green credibility.
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Energy Shocks Make Green Voters More Pro Drill
- Green voter opinion is shifting under energy shocks so many now see North Sea oil and even fracking as quick fixes.
- Megan Kenyon links that to repeated energy-price shocks making short-term supply feel more urgent than long-term decarbonisation.
Greens Becoming A Broader Left Umbrella
- The Green Party is broadening from a narrow environmental focus into a wider left umbrella attracting disillusioned Labour members.
- Kenyon says membership shifts predate Zac Polanski and drive policy emphasis toward economic justice as well as green issues.
Polanski's Unusual Political Backstory
- Zac Polanski has roots in other parties and uses established progressive networks to craft policy, speaking at the New Economics Foundation.
- Kenyon recounts Polanski debated Natalie Bennett as a Lib Dem and staged his economic speech at a green-linked think tank venue.