The Green Party of England and Wales has returned a £1,539.45 donation made by its own leader, Zack Polanski. The reason is simple: it was illegal.

Under UK electoral law, political parties are strictly prohibited from accepting funds from anyone not currently on the electoral register. Polanski, who made the donation in September last year shortly after his election as leader, was not on the register at the time. The money sat in the London Green Party’s accounts for nine months before being returned on June 10.

This is a breach of compliance. The law requires parties to return impermissible donations within 30 days of receipt. The Green Party failed to meet that window by a significant margin.

Security Concerns and Electoral Status

The party’s leadership attributes the oversight to a complex personal situation. Deputy leader Rachel Millward stated that Polanski was not on the electoral register due to "security reasons." According to the party, Polanski has been the target of persistent antisemitic and homophobic abuse since taking his post. Two arrests have already been made in connection with threats directed at him.

Because of these threats, Polanski has been in discussions with police regarding anonymous voter registration. This process is notoriously cumbersome. The party claims that the "extra process" required to secure his safety prevented him from completing the registration in time for the local elections or the donation window.

The Electoral Commission’s Stance

The Electoral Commission has not launched a formal investigation, but it is reviewing the matter. In a statement, the regulator noted that parties are expected to identify and return impermissible funds within the 30-day statutory limit. If a party discovers a violation after that period, they are expected to act immediately to rectify the error.

For now, the Commission is simply considering the facts. It remains to be seen whether this delay will result in a formal sanction or a simple administrative note. The party maintains that as soon as the issue was brought to the national organization's attention, they acted.

Why This Matters

Political parties operate under strict transparency rules. These laws exist to prevent foreign influence and ensure that all funding is traceable to eligible voters. Even when a violation is accidental, the optics are damaging. It suggests a breakdown in internal financial controls.

Polanski’s situation highlights the tension between personal safety and public duty. While the party argues that his security needs were paramount, the law does not provide exemptions for the registration status of party leaders. The rules are binary. You are on the register, or you are not.

Key Takeaways

  • The Green Party returned a £1,539.45 donation from Zack Polanski after it was deemed impermissible under UK law.
  • Polanski was not on the electoral register due to security concerns, a status that legally disqualifies him from donating to a political party.
  • The Electoral Commission is currently reviewing the incident, though no formal investigation has been opened at this time.

The Electoral Commission is expected to conclude its initial review of the donation handling within the next month. By then, the party will know if it faces a formal fine or if the matter will be closed as a remediated administrative error.