Speech of the Month, October 2025 - Zack Polanski

The most exciting and well-received speech of the conference season was easily the address that, recently elected leader, Zack Polanski made to the Green Party and its members.

It was an interesting one because if you’d listened to it on radio - so hadn’t seen the Green logo and the 'Bold Politics' slogan - you might have thought the speaker was addressing a Socialist Worker rally. He didn’t bring up green issues till he was 26 minutes in. Instead, he spoke passionately about wealth inequality and injustice. 

You wonder if the dyed-in-the-organic-and-responsibly-farmed-wool Green party members of 30 years cared. Or if they’re just so grateful / thrilled / relieved to have a charismatic, media-savvy leader that they’ll take a water melon.

If you’ve missed the fuss about Polanski, then check him out…  

So here are some of the techniques he used to get that spontaneous standing ovation? 

A strong intro

Polanski opened by talking about making a party-political video in Leeds and how a couple of locals had reacted to him. First, we had the reaction of an older neighbour whose response to talk about excessive billionaire wealth - ‘You won’t find any of the round here’ – got a big laugh. And a big laugh is good at the start of a speech. And next we had the reaction of a young couple who recognised Polanski and said they’d just signed up to be Green Party members the night before. The audience whooped at this as it reminded them that their membership (over 22,000) has rocketed in recent months. There’s momentum.  

So, consider if you can open a presentation with a story that has some humour. It’s a safe and effective start. And also, what have you done successfully that also benefits your audience and they'll be happy to celebrae? Remind them of that. 

He gave his audience a creed

Audiences like knowing what the speaker would like them to do. And if your audience is having to go out and persuade, that it’s great if the speaker can give them some strong lines to persuade with. When Polanski told the members that on the doorstep and until polling day in May, they were to say, “We will bring down your bills. We will cut the cost of living. And we will protect our NHS,” he received a round of applause. Yes, they liked the message and its ring of anaphora, but they also liked the fact that there were three simple lines for them to remember. 

Point of interest – have you noticed how it’s only politicians who say our NHS, not the NHS?

He’d rehearsed

He’s a former actor and the craft hasn’t left him. His stance is good. His voice has great pace and pitch. He gets his face involved. His eyes track his audience. He knows to let a round of applause die before speaking again. All this said, craft is honed through rehearsing. I know it’s tedious to get on your feet in your kitchen and go through the motions when you’re getting nothing back bar the odd fridge grumble, but it’s never time wasted. 

He played up to his Bold Politics slogan

It’s all well and good banging on about bold politics, but if you do so meekly, then nobody's going to be convinced.

Polanski’s boldest moment was when he said, “When Farage says ‘Jump!’ Starmer asks, ‘How High?’ But the Greens will never dance to the tune of a Trump-loving, tax avoiding, science denying, NHS dismantling, corporate stooge.” Man, did the members lap it up! And then came the topper, “Say it loud and say it clear – refugees and migrants are…” And the audience knew to say, “Welcome here!” 

Setting out his stall regarding refugees and migrants is indeed bold. I can see that swathes of people like the idea of a leader who isn’t cowed by Nigel Farage, but are the same swathes so keen on the prospect of more migration? 

Smashing Outro Line

“Let’s Go!” It speaks of movement and success. The sweet smell of triumph is in the air.