Green leaders warn party it must listen to Reform voters’ concerns to tackle inequality
Green leaders say the party should understand why some Reform voters feel left behind, arguing inequality and the cost of living are driving discontent.
Intelligence analysis by GPT-5.4 Mini
Zack Polanski and Caroline Lucas argue the Greens should engage with Reform-leaning voters rather than just denounce the party. They say many are reacting to years of austerity, broken promises and inequality, not simply backing hard-right politics.
The Green leaders are saying: don't just shout at people who might vote Reform. First, try to understand why they feel upset.
They think many of those people are worried about money, bills, and not being listened to for a long time. It's like trying to fix a cracked roof by asking why the leak started, not just pointing at the water.
The Greens also think this matters because Reform is doing well in polls. That means other parties have to think hard about how to talk to unhappy voters and why those voters are looking elsewhere.
Analysis
What the Greens are saying
Green leaders Zack Polanski and Caroline Lucas are urging the party to listen to people considering Reform UK, rather than treating them only as opponents. Their argument is that many of these voters are responding to real pressure from the cost of living crisis and wider inequality.
Polanski told a Compass conference in east London that there is a difference between Nigel Farage and the MPs who front Reform, and ordinary voters who may be attracted to the party. He said those voters are people the Greens need to care about because they have been “left behind” by decades of austerity and by politicians who have not spoken to them properly.
Why they think voters are drifting
Lucas said listening is the starting point because many of the concerns are legitimate, even if the solutions Reform offers are not. She said people who have lived through a prolonged cost of living squeeze and seen promises fail are understandable if they become desperate for change.
The article frames this as part of a wider political problem: polling suggests Reform could win a general election vote share of 27%, raising the possibility of Farage becoming prime minister. That threat is shaping debate across the political spectrum about how to respond to disaffected voters.
Local and strategic stakes
Lucas also discussed the Makerfield byelection, due on 18 June, where Andy Burnham is seeking a return to parliament and Reform is expected to be competitive. She said it was significant because Burnham supports electoral reform and proportional representation, which the Greens have long backed. She also noted that Reform may face competition from Restore Britain, the hard-right party led by former Reform MP Rupert Lowe.
The piece suggests the Greens see a political opening in speaking to economic frustration and democratic discontent, rather than relying only on anti-Reform messaging.
Key points
- Zack Polanski and Caroline Lucas say the Greens should listen to Reform-leaning voters' concerns.
- They argue many of those voters are responding to austerity, the cost of living crisis and inequality.
- Polanski says the party must distinguish between Reform leaders and ordinary people thinking about voting Reform.
- The article says Reform is polling strongly, which is pushing wider debate about UK politics.
- Lucas links the issue to the Makerfield byelection and the Greens' support for electoral reform.
