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New Green Party leader slams Reform’s ‘colonial mindset’ towards Wales

By Mark Mansfield
Zack Polanski after being announced as the new leader of the Green Party at Coin Street Neighbourhood Centre, London. Image: James Manning/PA Wire

New Green Party leader Zack Polanski has accused Reform UK leader Nigel Farage of betraying a “colonial mindset” towards Wales.

Speaking ahead of his visit to Cardiff this weekend, Mr Polanski, who secured a landslide victory in the party’s leadership election which concluded on Wednesday, says he wants to “reclaim” populism after the win.

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Stepping stones

He said: “Reform are treating Wales as nothing more than stepping stone to Downing Street. They’ve even refused to name a Welsh leader, such is their contempt for this country.

"Voters literally have no idea who their pick for First Minister would be for next year’s crucial Senedd elections.

“The Green Party has a clear leader in Wales – Anthony Slaughter, popular, committed and determined to deliver real hope and real change. I’m proud to be coming to Wales to stand beside him and support him.

"The Reform UK leader makes up nonsense. He even claimed he would be reopening coal mines when the future for communities and jobs in Wales is the move toward sustainable, renewable energy.

"Farage said Reform would re-open the blast furnace at Port Talbot, something workers know is physically impossible.

“It is an insult to the people of Wales to offer false hopes and lies. Wales, for Reform, is just a place to mop up salaries for his politicians on the way to Downing Street.

“Where they offer division, Greens offer actual solutions to people’s concerns. Greens in the Senedd will bring in rent controls, bring water into public ownership and bring down people’s bills.”

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Action day

Mr Polanski is in Cardiff on Saturday (6th September) as part of an action day for the 2026 Senedd election.

At the event, Wales Green Party will also be announcing their 2nd ranked candidate for the target constituency of Caerdydd Penarth, behind Anthony Slaughter.

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8 comments

Ioan Richard

This is a bit hypocrtical as the Green Party no longer has a 'Wales Green Party'. They re-modelled their structure to become 'The Green Party of England and Wales'. Anyway thank goodness they no longer have anything to do with their former Wales Guru Martin Shrewsbury, AKA many other pseudo names, as he is now a leading member of the Wales Labour party in Ystradgynlais Powys.

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Y Cymro

An interesting point made by the incumbent Green Party leader Zak Polanski regarding Reform treating Wales like an English colony. A good example. Today we had former Welsh Conservative Laura Ann Jones MS today at Reform's Birmingham rally said she favoured scrapping the Senedd because she feels that it is not working for the people of Wales, and if they could not make devolution work for Wales , would consider scrapping it. May I remind Laura Ann Jones that it's not devolution that's failed Wales. It's both Welsh Labour and UK Government decisions including the structure of devolution itself i.e lack of political powers currently withheld in London. So she can run away from the truth all she likes. Stop fighting devolution battles lost in 1997 and 2011. Another red flag. Nigel Farage recently said if Reform became Welsh Government could not abolish the Senedd as it was not in their power to do so, as only the UK Government could. Therefore he said the quiet bit out loud what Reform intend to do if they become the next UK Government. I'd like to point out to Nigel Farage and that quisling Laura Ann Jones that Westminster has never worked for Wales. But the very same mindset have never called for Westminster to be abolished when the Conservatives or Labour failed. So I do agree with the new leader of the Green Party. Yes , Reform are using Wales like a colonialist would, merely a stepping stone to Westminster power. They want to destroy not build Wales. Take away not give. Use & abuse.

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Unknown

I don’t think they’ll actually abolish it though.

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theoriginalmark

I bet you didn't think Farage would achieve brexit either?

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theoriginalmark

Oh I don't know, Farage is fairly unhinged.

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theoriginalmark

despite the irony, at least there is a politician prepared to openly call out Farage, hope others follow suit

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hdavies15

Most politicians reach a point where they become unhinged to varying degrees. Look no further than Ang and Nige just 2 of the current crop of loonies.

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David J

Around 2017 or thereabouts, Friends of the Earth rated all political parties on their green credentials; Plaid Cymru came out ahead of the Green Party. On this basis, I see no reason for the Greens to stand in constituencies where Plaid have a chance of winning. If they do , they risk a Labour or Reform victory. Plaid should come to an agreement with the Greens to prevent this happening. We don't want a rerun of the Uxbridge by-election, when the Green vote was more than the Conservative majority, thus gifting the tories another seat. Taking the high moral ground doesn't work against the likes of Farage.

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This is a bit hypocrtical as the Green Party no longer has a 'Wales Green Party'. They re-modelled their structure to become 'The Green Party of England and Wales'. Anyway thank goodness they no longer have anything to do with their former...

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