Green Party leader Zack Polanski on music, culture, and 2026 politics.

Sitting down with NME, Green Party leader Zack Polanski is a man on a mission, and it’s one that feels less like a political pitch and more like a backstage conversation at a festival. He’s talking about proving the Greens as the UK’s “real alternative,” a phrase that, in his hands, carries the weight of a manifesto and the rhythm of a protest song.The core of his argument isn't just found in policy papers; it's in the fight for young people and the very soul of culture, which he sees as under siege by a political mainstream steeped in what he calls “darkness, fear, and anger. ” For Polanski, the connection is visceral—he namechecks Irish rap provocateurs Kneecap, not as a casual reference but as a symbol of the raw, authentic voice he believes politics has lost.The question, of course, is whether the numbers add up, whether a party historically on the fringes can translate this cultural energy into tangible votes come 2026. He’s adamant they can, framing the election not as a dry arithmetic of marginal seats but as a battle for narrative, where convincing voters means offering a vision that’s as compelling as the art it seeks to protect. It’s a high-stakes gamble, blending the idealism of grassroots activism with the hard calculus of electoral politics, and Polanski is betting everything that the UK is finally ready to listen to a different tune.

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#Kneecap

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