We are a completely different political party': inside the Greens' membership boom

"We are, in effect, a completely different political party, one experienced Green organiser said. The majority of people have been around for less than six months. It's almost like when the Liberals and SDP merged to create the Lib Dems. In this case it's the merger of a bunch of quite online people with the Greens. Some definitely have brought in this Corbyn-ish idea of seeming more concerned about winning the argument and factionalism than getting power."

"Before Zack Polanski took over as leader last September, the Greens in England and Wales had around 66,000 members. They are now at 215,000, and still rising at speed. This means the party has many more people to knock on doors and fold leaflets, as seen with the vast numbers of canvassers the party could call on in winning last month's Gorton and Denton byelection."

"Some outsiders argue the Greens need to be wary of what could amount to a de facto takeover by new members, particularly those from the traditionally well-organised left."

The Green Party in England and Wales experienced dramatic growth, expanding from 66,000 to 215,000 members following Zack Polanski's leadership appointment. This rapid expansion provides significant organizational advantages, including increased canvassing capacity demonstrated in recent electoral successes. However, the influx creates substantial challenges as the majority of members are newcomers, many from Labour or associated with Jeremy Corbyn's political movement. Experienced party members report cultural shifts, with new arrivals bringing different priorities and organizational styles. Tensions have emerged over tactical approaches, with concerns that newcomers prioritize ideological arguments over electoral pragmatism. Specific incidents, such as inappropriate leaflet content, highlight integration difficulties. Some observers warn of potential de facto takeover risks by well-organized left-wing newcomers, fundamentally altering the party's character and strategic focus.

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