The New Statesman: politics and culture Abolish landlords?
Oct 7, 2025
Megan Kenyon, a journalist and New Statesman contributor, and Luke O'Reilly, an experienced political journalist, dive into the Green Party's bold proposal to abolish landlords. They explore the implications of targeting rentier capitalism and discuss how this connects to historical Labour ideas. The conversation also touches on the party's eco-populist policies and electoral strategies. Additionally, they analyze Labour's reforms on house-buying processes and the Tories' controversial funding plans for first-time buyers, all while questioning the impact of these policies on housing affordability.
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Polanski's Name And Background
- Zach Polanski changed his name from David Paulden to reclaim family identity and escape an abusive family label.
- He uses his Jewish Manchester roots to respond to criticism on Gaza and community issues.
What Eco-Populism Means
- Eco-populism blends climate justice with popular left policies like wealth taxes and public ownership.
- The Green pitch couples social justice and pro-migration stances with an environmental focus.
Polanski Versus Corbyn
- Polanski inherits many Corbyn-era policies but avoids Labour's internal machine and baggage.
- His freedom lets him court urban, middle-class left voters without needing to win traditional working-class areas.
