Greens leader Zack Polanski has launched a sharp rebuttal against Labour, accusing the party of making ‘vile’ remarks on drug policy and of enabling the ongoing conflict in Gaza. As campaigning intensifies in the Gorton and Denton by-election, Polanski defended his party’s approach to drug regulation and criticized Labour’s stance on both domestic and international issues.

The War on Drugs and Public Health Approach

Polanski addressed the controversy during a visit to the constituency, where he defended his party’s plan to legalise and regulate drugs. Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer had previously called the Greens’ policy ‘disgusting,’ particularly as a father of a teenager, and claimed it would turn public spaces into ‘crack dens.’

‘Let me speak with absolute clarity. What Keir Starmer and this Labour Government have said on drugs policy is vile. It debases politics,’ Polanski told the Press Association. He argued that the Greens are trying to have a ‘sensible grown up conversation’ about a ‘really serious issue,’ especially given the UK’s status as having the worst drug death rate in Europe.

Polanski accused Labour of making ‘cheap political attacks for short term gains,’ and stressed that the current approach to drug control has failed. ‘We need a different approach,’ he said, adding that the Greens want to ‘regulate drugs and control drugs’ rather than continue the ‘war on drugs.’

Labour’s Electoral Challenges

Labour faces a difficult battle to retain the previously secure Gorton and Denton seat, now under threat from both Reform UK candidate Matt Goodwin and Greens candidate Hannah Spencer. In 2024, Labour won the seat with a majority of 13,413, securing over half the vote. However, the party’s declining popularity since Starmer took office has raised concerns about its chances in this by-election.

Prime Minister Keir Starmer visited the constituency earlier this week, addressing Labour activists and framing the election as a ‘battle of values.’ He warned that voting Green could lead to a Reform UK victory, which he described as ‘deeply damaging.’

Polanski, however, claimed his party’s campaign is ‘amazingly well’ and dismissed the idea that Reform UK would win. He also defended his controversial description of the conflict in Gaza as a ‘genocide,’ stating that the Labour Government is ‘enabling’ the ongoing violence.

International Stance and Domestic Policy

Polanski reiterated that the events of October 7 were ‘absolutely outrageous and a horrific attack,’ and that nothing justifies the actions taken by Israel over the past couple of years. He accused the current government of being ‘not just complicit in, but actively enabling’ the conflict.

‘We could certainly stop our role in this by stopping selling arms to Israel, by stopping sharing intelligence, and making sure that we’re speaking with one voice,’ he said, adding that it’s ‘time to end the genocide.’

Polanski’s comments on Gaza have drawn criticism from some within the UK political spectrum, but he remains steadfast in his position, arguing that the Greens’ policies are necessary to address both domestic and international crises.

The by-election, set to take place on Thursday, is seen as a critical test for both Labour and the Greens. With Reform UK also in the race, the outcome could have broader implications for the political landscape in Greater Manchester and beyond.