Green Party leader says he did not vote despite claims he cast postal ballot

Politics
15 May 2026 • 9:18 AM MYT
The Independent
The Independent

The world’s most free-thinking newspaper

Green Party leader says he did not vote despite claims he cast postal ballot

  • Green Party leader Zack Polanski has admitted he did not vote in the recent local elections, retracting an earlier claim by an aide that he cast a postal ballot.
  • The party initially stated an aide suggested Polanski had cast a postal vote for Green mayoral candidate Zoë Garbett in Hackney.
  • The Green Party has since clarified that Polanski was “unable to vote” due to moving house and increased security concerns following antisemitic and homophobic abuse.
  • Polanski is now in discussions with his local authority to register anonymously and with the Metropolitan Police to review his security arrangements.
  • This admission follows recent reports that Polanski did not pay the correct council tax amount while living on a houseboat, which the party called an “unintentional mistake”.

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