This podcast is a discussion with Hannah Sell, the General Secretary of the Socialist Party, about the Green Party of England and Wales

The May 2026 elections were a turning point in Britain. The votes of both Labour and the Tory party collapsed; ending the duopoly via which capitalism has ruled for the best part of a century. The right-wing populists of Reform surged, and so did the Greens. Under their new ‘eco-populist’ leader, Zack Polanski, the Greens won an average of 17% of the vote across English local authorities, resulting in 441 extra councillors and winning control of five new councils. In these elections, the Greens were the main left alternative to the establishment parties and to Reform. Meanwhile, Green Party membership has soared to 230,000. 

What was the significance of the May local elections for the Greens? Are the Greens a workers' party? What is the Greens' record in power? Are the Greens on the way to being a socialist party? Let's go to Hannah to find out.

Further reading

How will the Greens develop now?

https://socialismtoday.org/how-will-the-greens-develop-now