Good and bad news for Zack Polanski: the Green conference was a joy, but now hopes are stratospheric | Adam Ramsay

"The Green party members in Bournemouth at the weekend were, largely, exuberant. More than one person I spoke to used the word joyful. The energy is amazing, said Jean Lambert, the former London MEP. It's exceeded my expectations, said the new leader, Zack Polanski. Even the most unfriendly journalist can't find anyone that isn't fired up and ready to go. Polanski himself contributed to this feeling. He has a talent for expressing members' views clearly and without fearing how the rightwing press might respond."

"The recent boost he's brought to the party's profile combines the gnawing anxiety produced by rising Faragism, the experience of watching a genocide in real time, anger at inequality, Keir Starmer's move to the right and profound climate anxieties, with an overwhelming feeling of relief: thank God someone's saying this. Where once there was a nervousness about defending controversial but internally popular policies such as drug decriminalisation or denouncing Israeli apartheid, the party has now abandoned this caution and members love it."

"Standing ovations used to be a rarity at Green conferences. Polanski got multiple. He benefited from a surprising consensus about external messaging his speech focused on ending what he called rip-off Britain by nationalising public utilities and taxing wealth to fund public services such as childcare. Prominent members I spoke to from across the party's spectrum largely agree that this is the right approach."

Members in Bournemouth displayed exuberance and joy, with widespread high energy and enthusiasm. Zack Polanski increased the party's profile by speaking plainly and aligning messaging across the party. Multiple factors drive member motivation: rising Faragism, witnessing genocide, anger at inequality, Keir Starmer's rightward shift, and climate anxieties, combined with relief that the party speaks clearly. The party abandoned prior caution on controversial but popular policies such as drug decriminalisation and criticism of Israeli apartheid. A surprising consensus formed around ending 'rip-off Britain' through nationalising utilities and taxing wealth to fund public services like childcare. New deputies helped emotionally ground and unify members.

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