Polanski Skips Budget Vote for Campaign

0:00On February 26, this episode is brought to you by NordVPN. If you use public Wi-Fi or care about your privacy online, NordVPN helps keep your connection. Secure across all your devices, links in the episode description. Here's the latest in UK news. Green Party leader Zach Polansky drew fire for skipping a crucial vote on London's mayor budget to campaign in a Manchester by election. On Thursday, February 26, Assembly members approved CD-CON's draft for 2026-27, which hikes council tax by 20. Pounds a year per household to wrap up police action on phone thefts and bolster the fire brigade. Assembly members debated seven amendments that day, including green party ones pushing extra funds for renters rights groups, legal challenges too. Heathrow's expansion and reprioritizing police investments. Without a big labor revolt, all got shot down, leaving the budget unchanged. Labor figures on the assembly blasted Polansky for ditching the chamber early, calling it unacceptable to prioritize party campaigning over core.

1:04Duties like budget votes. They argued as shows Greens put themselves first, not Londoners who elected them. Meanwhile, Polansky's trip aligned with a tight parliamentary by-election in Gordon and Denton, where Green hopeful Hannah Spencer looks like the... Frontrunner. Elected Assembly member in May 2021 and party leader last September 2025, he skipped common when pressed. As the budget rolls out with this new policing push, Polansky's eco-focus platform keeps stirring debate, tying climate action to everyday costs, through calls for wealth taxes and public control of utilities.