Green Party of England and Wales
A clear guide to the Green Party of England and Wales: its history, its left-wing green ideology, where it stands on the environment, the economy, and social justice, and its rise under Zack Polanski.
Overview
- Country
- United Kingdom
- Founded
- 1990
- Position
- Left-wing
- Leader
- Zack Polanski
- Headquarters
- London
The Green Party of England and Wales is a left-wing party built around environmentalism and social justice. It has grown quickly in recent years, winning four seats at the 2024 general election and expanding its membership sharply under Zack Polanski, who became leader in 2025 on an eco-populist platform linking climate action to everyday economic concerns.
The party stands to the left of Labour on many economic questions and places ecological sustainability at the centre of its politics. It also has strong local roots, with hundreds of councillors across England and Wales.
History
British green politics began with the PEOPLE party in 1973, which became the Ecology Party and then, in 1985, the Green Party. In 1990 the party divided along national lines, and the Green Party of England and Wales became a distinct organisation alongside separate Scottish and Northern Ireland green parties.
The party won its first parliamentary seat in 2010 with Caroline Lucas in Brighton Pavilion. It expanded to four seats in 2024 under the joint leadership of Carla Denyer and Adrian Ramsay. In 2025 Zack Polanski was elected leader, and the party saw a rapid rise in membership and strong results in the 2026 local elections.
Economic Policy
The party supports an economy reorganised around environmental sustainability and social equality. It backs a large programme of green investment, higher taxes on wealth and high incomes, expanded public services, and public or cooperative ownership in key sectors such as energy and water. Its eco-populist framing under recent leadership links the climate crisis directly to the cost of living and inequality.
Foreign Policy
The party favours a foreign policy centred on peace, international cooperation, and climate justice. It generally opposes high military spending and overseas military intervention, supports nuclear disarmament, and calls for ambitious international action on climate change and global inequality.
Where They Stand
- Places environmental sustainability and climate action at the centre of policy
- Backs large green investment funded by higher taxes on wealth
- Supports expanded public services and public ownership of key utilities
- Strongly progressive on equality and civil liberties
- Favours proportional representation and decentralised democracy
- Supports nuclear disarmament and lower military spending
Electoral Record
The party won its first seat in 2010 and expanded to four in 2024. It holds hundreds of local council seats and has become a growing presence, particularly among younger and left-leaning voters. Its 2026 local election results were the best in its history.
Position on the Political Compass
Green Party of England and Wales sits on the left-leaning side on economics and is moderate on questions of social freedom and authority.
These positions are approximate and meant as a guide. Take the test to see how your own views compare.
Key Figures
Caroline Lucas
First Green MP, 2010 to 2024
Won the party's first seat in Parliament in Brighton Pavilion in 2010 and became its most recognisable national figure over more than a decade as its sole MP.
Zack Polanski
Leader since 2025
Elected leader in 2025 on an eco-populist platform linking climate action to the cost of living, presiding over a sharp rise in membership and strong local election results.
Sources and Further Reading
- Green Party of England and Wales (Wikipedia)en.wikipedia.org
- Official party websitegreenparty.org.uk
- Electoral Commission registrationsearch.electoralcommission.org.uk
Where do you stand?
Take the CoreOpinion United Kingdom political test to see how your views compare with Green Party of England and Wales and the other parties.
Take the United Kingdom Test
Social Policy
The Greens are strongly progressive on social questions. They support expansive civil liberties, racial and gender equality, LGBT rights, and reform of the criminal justice and immigration systems. They favour constitutional reform including proportional representation and emphasise participatory democracy and decentralisation of power.