Zack Polanski (Photography by Louise Haywood-Schiefer) 12 min read43 min Green Party leader Zack Polanski talks to Sienna Rodgers about his by-election success, potential Labour defectors, and how his upbringing shapes his views on Zionism Zack Polanski is still revelling in a historic by-election victory in Gorton and Denton, where plumber Hannah Spencer won over 40 per cent of the vote, when he visits The House offices. The Greens’ unquestionable triumph in Manchester and corresponding jump in the national polls have been quickly overshadowed, however, by events abroad as Israel and the US launched attacks on Iran. Polanski’s deputy, Mothin Ali, reacted to the strikes by joining a protest that critics characterised as supportive of the Iranian regime but the Greens describe simply as anti-war. “I can’t guarantee that I’ve never been on a march where someone hasn’t said something I disagree with,” the leader says, confirming that he would attend these protests himself, even though attendees were flying pro-regime flags and mourning Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. “It’s cynical when people seek …