Green Party leader Polanski's approval hits record low

Summarised from 2 outlets · 3 reports · Updated 18 Oct, 11:19 · Archive

Zack Polanski's approval rating has fallen to minus 36, the lowest of any national leader, according to an October Ipsos poll.

Zack Polanski's approval rating has hit a record low, falling to minus 36 according to an Ipsos poll conducted in October, making him the least popular national party leader. The survey found that 52 per cent of the public now view him unfavourably, up six points since September, and just 16 per cent hold a positive view. This marks the first time more than half the population has expressed a negative opinion of him.

The decline follows two significant setbacks for Polanski. The Green Party conference in Brighton passed a motion describing Zionism as racism, which drew widespread criticism. Polanski himself was absent from the debate on the motion, having chosen to campaign in the Holborn and St Pancras by-election, which he subsequently lost to Labour. The Jewish Greens leader Vivien Lichtenstein called for his resignation, describing his absence from the debate as a "big mistake".

While opposition to Polanski is concentrated among older voters, he has also lost ground among under-35s, falling from a net approval score of plus 16 in April to plus two now. Keiran Pedley, UK director of politics at Ipsos, characterised it as a "bruising month" for the Green Party leader. He has faced calls from his own members to resign in recent weeks.

How it is being reported

• Zack Polanski's Popularity Hits All-Time Low Amid 'Zionism Is Racism' RowZack Polanski speaks with supporters during the Holborn and St Pancras by-election campaign. Zack Polanski’s popularity has slumped to an all-time low amid the row over his party’s “Zionism is racism” policy. For the first time, more than half the public (52%) now have an unfavourable view of the Green Party leader, according to an Ipsos poll. That is up six points since September, which was before the Greens were accused of “racism” after delegates at the party’s annual conference passed the anti-Zionism motion. Just 16% of voters said they had a positive view of Polanski, giving him an…HuffPost UK · 18 Oct, 11:03
• Polanski’s popularity plummets to record low in wake of Green by-election loss and ‘Zionism’ motionZack Polanski now has the lowest popularity of any national leader, with his overall rating falling to minus 36The Independent · 18 Oct, 09:06
• Zack Polanski’s poll approval ratings hit new low amid ‘Zionism is racism’ rowThe Green Party leader’s support among young voters has nosedived, according to IsposThe Independent · 18 Oct, 00:01

In this story: Zack Polanski · Green Party · Vivien Lichtenstein · Jewish Greens · Holborn and St Pancras · Brighton · Labour · Ipsos

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