James

The Meritocracy!

This! Perceived as weak, already fighting each other, unclear message. Love Jeremy but he lacks the gravitas to lead in this brutal political climate - he’ll be eaten alive. He’d be far more powerful as a behind-the-scenes activist. I say this after seeing him in Edinburgh recently.

If I was Zach, I would give #yourparty a wide birth until I was certain they wouldn’t implode again and damage the whole left movement. While the Greens are demonstrating a real connection with people, YourParty has had infighting and an ambiguous message/position. Handle with extreme care.

100% this. Zach is a natural leader and powerful figurehead. Jeremy and Zarah would be phenomenal activists. If they combine effectively they’d be a powerhouse.

When they tell you to pay attention to one thing, it’s usually because they’re doing something far worse elsewhere.

This is the beginning of the next phase in their playbook. All designed to normalise their hate (masquerading as religion and traditional values).

The diet homophobia that entered UK public debate a few years ago is now on display - proud and unashamed.

This is where it starts, not where it ends.

The juggernaut of the right-wing, pseudo Christian hate machine is making significant inroads into our society - and this is just the beginning. And our government is complicit at best, and actively stoking the flames at worst.

Brace yourself, because the US has shown us what comes next…

Ever since I finished Question Time, Reform have massively been on the attack.

Including a rant from Richard Tice entirely designed to distract from Reform and Russia.

Everyone should know about Nathan Gill, the bribes from Russia and the link to Reform.

Fantastic work Chris - what a fantastic, inspiring and genuinely hopeful movement to be a part of.

Thanks for spreading hope and connection over hate and division.

It shouldn’t be a debate that community-led power is far more effective and diagnosing and actioning the most effective interventions for that community. The further from the issues, the more obscure the reality becomes.

I’d imagine Zach’s stellar performance has got the Russian/Reform/MAGA bot farms kicking into overdrive.

What’s terrifying is, for a moment, I genuinely thought this could be real.

That’s where we are.

Excellent thread, well worth a read.

Not only did @zackpolanski.bsky.social conduct himself with integrity and honesty on #BBCQT, he also called out Reform directly for their far-right policies and associations. There is only one party combatting the rise of Reform and it's @greenparty.org.uk. Other parties act as their cheerleaders.

The audience were the MVP here (and Zach of course). So refreshing to hear people celebrate diversity and multiculturalism again.

Well you can’t be taken seriously. You did something 12 years ago!

Says the man from a party dripping in daily scandals, fascism and hatred.

👏 consistently applauded by the audience. Nice one Zack!

Deafening applause as Zack Polanski tells Zia Yusuf that people's concern over immigration is because he spends all his time spreading misinformation and fear.

#bbcqt

💯this - beyond the manipulative social algorithms and curated rage bait are a bunch of people with thoughtful and (mostly) kind-hearted views. Gave me hope.

I was thinking this too. What a thoughtful, level-headed bunch of people. It made me realise how warped the media had made me about the “average” British person (whatever that means).

“Journalist” is doing a lot of heavy lifting for Annabel

The pope challenges modern societies who have done too little to eradicate inequality and calls people of good will to take on the mantle of social justice. "I can only state once more that inequality is 'the root of all social ills'," he wrote. Leo questioned a world where the wealth of the elite grows "exponentially" while many "millions of people die of hunger or survive in conditions unfit for human beings." He also criticized "ideologies that defend the absolute autonomy of the marketplace and financial speculation," with false promises "that a free-market economy will automatically solve the problem of poverty." Leo described a "new tyranny," which shuns any kind of oversight and where the economy is structured "in such a way that sacrifices are demanded of the masses in order to serve the needs of the powerful." The poor, he wrote, are only allowed "drops that trickle down." The pope openly challenged "prosperity theology" and called Christians to the practice of giving charity. "It will not solve the problem of world poverty, yet it must still be carried out, with intelligence, diligence and social responsibility," he wrote. Popular movements that challenge "the empire of money," invite people to take on the cause to combat poverty alongside the poor, instead of on their behalf, and "make history," the pope said. It our duty, Leo said, to "make their voices heard, albeit in different ways, in order to point out and denounce such structural issues, even at the cost of appearing foolish or naïve."

Nice to see the Pope wading in on this issue directly.

“Leo described a "new tyranny," which shuns any kind of oversight and where the economy is structured "in such a way that sacrifices are demanded of the masses in order to serve the needs of the powerful."

BCC: @zackpolanski.bsky.social

“…a perfect storm of ego, fear, hate, and ambition - all of it mangled into something cruel and hollow, masquerading as strength.”

Sounds ever so familiar.

Whether that translates into a credible shot at power? Who can say! But we can dream, and keep promoting / campaigning where possible.

I certainly know what world I’d rather live in.

But, that’s just my perspective.

Until recently, the only avenue for disaffected, angry, disillusioned voters has been Reform. I see Zach et al offering an alternative which still acknowledges the deep frustration people feel towards the establishment but offers an alternative solution.

Interesting question. It feels like shifting the narrative is the first stage. The @greenparty.org.uk don’t need to be in power to shift the public debate, and if the public respond positively (which they are) that may increase their traction and coverage.

What @zackpolanski.bsky.social and @greenparty.org.uk have done is give a voice to a group of people who, until now, have felt politically homeless.

Reclaiming patriotism as the best of our community spirit and kindness.

Reclaiming populism as a collective effort towards a fair society for all.

I don’t think I’ve felt so hopefully for a possible, alternative future than watching Zach, Rachel and Mothin speak at the conference.

People are right to be angry. Livid. White hot with rage.

But your enemy is not an asylum seeker, an immigrant or a boat of desperate people.

It is the systems and institutions designed, very deliberately, to place the power and wealth in the hands of a tiny, greedy minority.

Express article with headline that reads: Greens who want to save the world by destroying Britain.

Today in toxic media includes this Express piece targeting Muslims, trans people, net zero, wind and solar energy, and the Greens.

💰 Supported by ads from the #NSPCC, #Asda, #TuClothing and #BootsUK.