In April 2016, Zack Polanski, a Liberal Democrat candidate for the London Assembly in Barnet, addressed voter concerns about rising antisemitism during a local hustings event. Jewish residents expressed fears linked to rhetoric within the Labour Party following Jeremy Corbyn’s leadership election. Polanski, spreading his arms wide, identified as a proud Jew and Zionist. He positioned a vote for the Liberal Democrats as support for liberalism, Israel, and Judaism.
Early Career and Name Change
Born David Paulden, Polanski legally changed his name to reclaim his family’s Jewish surname and distance himself from his stepfather. At the time, he worked as a life coach, actor, corporate trainer, and hypnotherapist. He joined the Liberal Democrats a few years prior after developing an interest in politics. A former colleague described him as part of the party’s soft-Right wing. At a 2011 party conference, Polanski called the Liberal Democrats ‘family.’ Lib Dem Voice magazine later named him a ‘star of 2015,’ praising his energy, efficiency, ambition, and liberal values.
Political Setbacks and Defection
Polanski failed to secure the Barnet seat. He then sought nomination for Richmond Park but was overlooked, prompting public frustration on Facebook about the lack of feedback or appeals. Soon after, he joined the Green Party, which selected him for a London Assembly position. He rose to deputy leader in 2022 and party leader in 2024.
Green Party’s Recent Challenges
Under Polanski’s leadership, the Green Party faces scrutiny over candidate social media posts ahead of local elections. Two candidates, Saiqa Ali in Streatham and Sabine Mairey in Clapham, faced arrest this week on suspicion of stirring racial hatred. Ali shared an image of a Hamas fighter captioned ‘Resistance is freedom.’ Mairey posted a placard image stating ‘ramming a synagogue isn’t anti-Semitism, it’s revenge.’ Lambeth candidate Mark Bittlestone reposted content questioning the October 7 attacks as a ‘false flag’ and using derogatory language about Israel.
Reports surfaced weeks earlier, yet the party retained them initially. Polanski denied plans to campaign with Ali and Mairey on the day of their arrests. Party membership has surged from 68,000 to about 225,000 in six months, attracting former Labour members.
Deputy Leader’s Remarks
Deputy leader Mothin Ali, a social media influencer, appears in a leaked recording urging disciplined antisemitic members to pursue legal action against the party, using ‘we’ to refer to them. On October 7, 2023, Ali posted on TikTok supporting ‘the right of indigenous people to fight back.’ After his 2024 Leeds councillor election, he celebrated under a Palestinian flag as ‘a win for the people of Gaza,’ shouting ‘Allahu Akbar.’
Social Media Activity and Controversies
Polanski frequently engages on X and Bluesky, downplaying links between Gaza discourse and rising UK antisemitic incidents. He attributed Jewish community fears to ‘perception of unsafety’ rather than actual threats. Following a terror attack in Golders Green, he shared a post criticizing police for ‘repeatedly and violently kicking’ the suspect, drawing condemnation from Home Office Minister Mike Tapp, the Jewish Labour Movement, and Met Police chief Mark Rowley. Rowley warned it fueled tensions, prompting Polanski’s apology.
Analysis of his Bluesky activity shows nearly 35,000 visits in a year, averaging 100 daily, with frequent ‘ego surfing’—searching his own name. A third of liked posts mention ‘Zack Polanski.’ He has liked critical posts about journalists, including derogatory comments toward Marina Hyde, a Guardian columnist, and others.
Background and Early Life
Born in Salford in 1982 to Jewish parents who divorced young, Polanski describes a working-class upbringing. His mother works in entertainment; his father founded Beronsand Limited, dealing in real estate with significant assets by Polanski’s teens. The family afforded private education; Polanski attended Stockport Grammar on scholarship before leaving after GCSEs, citing bullying related to his sexuality.
He studied drama in Aberystwyth, worked in community theatre, as a PGL rep, nightclub bouncer, and hypnotherapist. In 2013, a Sun article quoted him claiming hypnosis could enlarge breasts; he later called it a ‘successful project’ on BBC Radio Humberside, contradicting recent denials of misrepresentation.
Lib Dem Conference and Rise
In 2015, at the Lib Dem autumn conference, Polanski claimed to have personally phoned over 2,000 new members. Attendees questioned the claim’s veracity. Former colleagues view his defection as fortunate, noting shifts from pro-Israel stances to current party dynamics amid antisemitism concerns.
Polanski’s Greens poll at 15-20%, winning recent by-elections with strong pro-Palestinian support. His online strategy boosts visibility but raises questions about discourse and tensions.
