A tale of political rags-to-riches will be celebrated in Bournemouth this weekend as the Green Party’s new leader Zack Polanski presides over his first annual conference. After all, prior to launching his leadership campaign in May, Polanski boasted little real profile outside the Westminster bubble. After that, Polanski attended a local sixth-form college, where this working-class hero realised he was far happier among the proletariat. Zack Polanski was born David Stephen Paulden (he later changed his name via deed poll). Despite being raised in what he has described as ‘a very Zionist household’, Polanski is an outspoken critic of Israel.