The scale of the party’s growth was apparent when MP Siân Berry asked how many attendees were at their first Green Party conference and a sea of hands rose across the hall. With relatively few conference veterans in the room, the moment captured how much the party’s membership has expanded, and evolved, under Zack Polanski’s leadership.

Although Polanski was unable to discuss the Holborn and St Pancras by-election in his speech because of broadcasting restrictions, its importance loomed large throughout weekend.

Cost of Living Takes Centre Stage

The dominant theme of Polanski’s speech was the cost-of-living crisis. The leadership appears determined to broaden the Greens’ appeal beyond traditional environmental supporters by focusing on the everyday economic pressures facing households across the country.

Polanski repeatedly argued that soaring rents and housing costs are among the most significant drivers of insecurity for working people, positioning the Greens as the party most willing to intervene in the housing market. This sat alongside more familiar Green proposals, including taxing the rich, bringing water companies into public ownership and a two-year jobs guarantee for unemployed under-24s.

There was relatively little evidence of significant policy development across other major sectors. Health, defence, energy and other public services were discussed at fringe events, but there was no equivalent flagship offer comparable to the party’s housing agenda.

The “Green” in Green Party

Although cost of living dominated proceedings on the main stage, environmental issues remained highly visible across the fringes. Discussions frequently linked this summer’s extreme heat and wildfires to challenges including food security, public health, housing resilience and national preparedness. These conversations reflected a broader shift toward framing climate policy, not as a standalone issue, but as a challenge that cuts across almost every area of public policy.

Internal Tensions Emerge

Despite the leadership’s attempts to focus conference on other issues, discussion of the ‘Zionism is Racism’ motion dominated corridors, fringe events and informal conversations throughout the weekend. The debate has exposed tensions between the party’s enlarged membership and many of its senior figures, with Green MPs and former leader Caroline Lucas, publicly stating their opposition to the motion.

Ultimately, the debate became the defining political and media story of conference, overshadowing much of the leadership’s intended policy agenda.

Looking Ahead

Polanski’s central argument was neatly summed up in one line: “Vote Green and watch Labour move.” Party figures pointed to developments such as delays to approvals for Rosebank and Jackdaw as examples of Green pressure influencing Labour’s decision-making.

While confidence within the party is undoubtedly growing, significant challenges remain. The Greens must demonstrate that their support extends beyond protest voters, while managing a rapidly expanding and increasingly radical membership and converting electoral momentum into policy influence.

With media attention quickly shifting from the leadership’s policy agenda to debates over internal divisions, the road ahead looks more complicated than it appeared at the start of conference season. The result in Holborn and St Pancras may provide the clearest indication yet of whether the Green Party’s momentum will continue.