Zack Polanski on British culture, Reform UK and grassroots power

About this interview

I speak with Zack Polanski, leader of the Green Party of England and Wales, about culture, grassroots democracy and the political direction of Britain. Polanski argues that culture emerges from communities organising together, sharing ideas and making art collectively, and contrasts that with the much narrower definition of community on offer from Reform UK. We discuss populism in British politics, Polanski’s view that Nigel Farage presents himself as a populist while serving wealthy interests, the role of arts and culture in politics, whether public intervention could play a bigger role in cultural industries and ticketing, and how the arts have lost working-class voices. He closes by reflecting on how his background in immersive theatre shapes his approach to politics, comparing political participation to interactive performance: citizens shouldn’t just observe politics, they should shape it.