This year, the Green Party of England and Wales hosted its annual autumn conference in Bournemouth. This monumental event, with a record-breaking attendance of over 1,000, surpassed all previous Green Party conferences.
The Bournemouth International Centre was filled with electric energy, reality, and, most importantly, hope for a better future for all.
The Green Surge that followed the 2025 internal elections, with 10,000 members joining in under a month, marked an inspiring moment for the Green Party.
This surge not only demonstrated the party’s increasing popularity but also its potential to influence the political landscape. It was a testament to the growing movement that all attendees took pride in being a part of.
Harriet Lamb: ‘We’ve never had so much press coverage.’
My time at the Green Party conference began with a fringe session for party members to be properly introduced to the party’s new CEO, Harriet Lamb, and new deputy CEO, Chris Williams, who most notably serves as the party’s elections officer.
A significant focus of the session was to make it clear that the Greens were thinking big going forward, that their target of more than 30 MPs at the next general election was too small; however, one significant barrier got in their way: Funding.
Despite this, the Greens remain undeterred. Their unwavering focus on large-scale crowdfunding is a testament to their resilience and determination to overcome administrative issues and strengthen their foundations, inspiring all who support their cause.
Zack Polanski: ‘We will make sure that the very wealthiest pay more tax.’
Zack Polanski’s speech, a highly anticipated moment, was a powerful and inspiring start to his leadership journey. His appointment marks a new era of hope, and the energy in the room was absolutely incredible.
Every single person in that hall believed in him, and he was met by standing ovations more times than I can count.
Zack was introduced on stage by Carla Denyer, MP for Bristol Central and former co-leader of the Green Party. Carla chose to step down from her role as co-leader to focus on her position as an MP.
Zack opened his speech by giving his supporters what they wanted most: Connection. He shared a personal anecdote, making the audience understand that he wasn’t above them, but one of them. This personal touch in his speech made every listener feel a part of his journey.
Zack’s speech was personal, powerful and exceptionally raw. All these things combined are the reasons why Zack is gaining more and more supporters every day. In fact, Zack Polanski fans are now being referred to as “Zacktivists,” a term that reflects the growing enthusiasm and support for Zack’s leadership within the party.
Zack’s main aims during his leadership will be to implement a wealth tax on the assets of the wealthiest, to end the genocide in Gaza and to allow asylum seekers and immigrants safer and legal routes to the UK.
It’s clear to me that Zack is the person in the room who isn’t afraid to say what everyone is thinking, an authentic voice for the people.
‘Unprecedented use of terror laws to silence people speaking out’.
Following Zack’s speech, I attended a panel on attacks on protesters.
The most shocking part of the panel was the heart-wrenching personal account of Just Stop Oil activist Cole Macdonald, who emotionally and bravely told her story of protesting for the climate, which has unfortunately left her physically disabled.
The Green Party’s unwavering support for the right to protest was evident in this panel, and their active call for the organisation, Palestine Action, to be de-proscribed reaffirms their commitment to civil liberties, providing reassurance to all who value these rights.
Anthony Slaughter: ‘Labour’s support in Wales is collapsing.’
In the afternoon, Anthony Slaughter, the leader of the Green Party in Wales, delivered a speech in which he stated that Labour’s support in Wales is collapsing.
Anthony Slaughter comes across as a very nationalistic figure who is proud to be Welsh, and his main political aims are the promotion of the Welsh language, culture, and the upholding of Welsh values.
It came across that Anthony Slaughter is proud to be Welsh and stated that: “For Reform, Wales is nothing but a stage post on the way to Downing Street.” He also spoke about his concerns regarding the Reform Party’s plans to scrap Welsh language goals in schools.
