Green Party leader Zack Polanski has significantly upgraded his ambitions for the party, after recent electoral success, a surge in membership, and improved polling.
While he insists becoming Prime Minister is not his immediate goal, Mr Polanski now aims for a substantial increase in parliamentary representation.
Speaking on the BBC’s Political Thinking With Nick Robinson podcast, Mr Polanski revealed his initial target of 30-40 MPs when he was elected leader in September 2025 now feels “under ambitious”.
This reassessment follows Hannah Spencer becoming the party’s fifth MP in Gorton and Denton, south east Manchester, in February.
The party’s membership has also soared from approximately 55,000 when he sought leadership to over 220,000 today, alongside tripling poll ratings.
“Winning a lot more MPs” and local councillors is now his primary focus, he stated.
When asked about the prospect of becoming Prime Minister, Mr Polanski responded: “That really isn’t the target right now. It’s definitely in my mind because I get asked about it all the time.”
Instead, he envisions the Greens holding the balance of power, which he believes would open crucial discussions on proportional representation, a wealth tax, climate action, and policies to alleviate the cost of living crisis.
He described changes to the voting system, particularly proportional representation, as a “huge prize” and a “burning ambition”.
Mr Polanski also used the interview to reiterate his apology for a controversial 2013 comment to a Sun newspaper journalist, where he claimed hypnosis could increase a woman’s breast size.
“It does make me cringe. It’s embarrassing,” he admitted. “At some point, I think it’s important that I keep putting forward actually what I’m doing right now. I made a mistake and I acknowledge I made the mistake.”
He added: “I think there’s two main apologies there. One is working with The Sun, which is something now as a politician I would never do. And that’s not to back away from my apology.
“You know, I went along with it and I have that culpability in that. Thirteen years ago, before I was a politician, but I acknowledge that and I apologise for that.”
