Green Party Throws a Rave: A Bold Move for Young Voters?
In a move that’s certainly turned heads, the Green Party recently hosted an open-air nightclub event in London, aiming to connect with younger demographics and boost their public profile. The ‘Green Party PARTY’ took place at The Cause, a popular London venue, featuring a lineup of DJs including Badger and Toddla T, along with special appearances from Green MP Hannah Spencer and party leader Zack Polanski.
The event was orchestrated by Green Space, an organisation dedicated to embedding “community, creativity, and joy at the heart of politics.” This initiative previously launched in January with a club night at Heaven, successfully raising an impressive £13,000 for the London Green Party.
However, for those familiar with the venue, the turnout at this latest event appeared noticeably lower than its capacity. The atmosphere began somewhat subdued, with the MCs drawing criticism for talking over the music – a cardinal sin in the clubbing world. One particularly uninspired remark from the stage was, “If you get closer to the speaker, the music gets louder!” While some attendees seemed to embrace the chants, including the classic “oggy, oggy, oggy!”, it felt a tad heavy-handed for a seasoned club-goer.
With final entry set at 6 pm, there was ample time to explore the venue’s three main spaces, plus an additional “VIP” room, before Zack Polanski made his grand entrance at 6:45 pm.
Polanski’s initial speech was brief, leaning heavily on buzzwords and well-worn Green slogans such as “Who is ready for rent control?” This was met with enthusiastic cheers from the crowd. While not groundbreaking, the address did manage to energise the audience, and the overall atmosphere noticeably improved thereafter.
This strategy might effectively engage existing Green Party supporters, but its reach beyond that core group remains questionable. The event was only discovered a few days prior by this reporter while searching for outdoor activities to fill a sunny weekend. Perhaps the limited attendance was a reflection of the Greens’ perceived lack of mainstream media presence – an issue Polanski has been actively working to address. Nevertheless, as a regular at DJ events and someone working for a newspaper, the lack of advance publicity was surprising.
Even a companion attending the event was initially oblivious to its political nature. He spent a considerable amount of time trying to identify the DJ “Zack Polanski,” only realising with dawning comprehension that a “Green Party” event didn’t solely revolve around environmental concerns.
Polanski delivered a second speech at 8:40 pm, allowing attendees to enjoy the performers before a rousing call to action in an indoor space. For this address, he was joined by Hannah Spencer. While Polanski again relied on chants to maintain audience engagement, the speech also touched upon important issues such as trans rights, the impact of billionaires, and the necessity of taxing the wealthy.
Following this final speech, Polanski was seen dancing with attendees to classic tracks like Avicii’s “Levels.” Sadly, he didn’t take to the decks himself. It was at this moment the surreal nature of the event truly hit home. Here was a reporter, dancing at a rave, alongside the leader of a significant political party – a potential candidate for Prime Minister. The mental image of Keir Starmer in Polanski’s place was, frankly, hilarious.
This approach stands in contrast to the often-unconventional tactics employed by other political figures. For instance, Lib Dem leader Ed Davey was known to engage in rather embarrassing stunts during election campaigns to garner media attention. Surely, hosting a DJ event to foster community and raise funds effectively communicates a political party’s message more coherently than, say, bungee jumping at a football match.
By keeping the speeches concise and slogan-focused, the event prioritised welcoming attendees and fostering inclusivity over aggressively pushing a political agenda. One could argue that the party might have been better served by foregoing speeches altogether, allowing the event itself, held under their banner, to subtly communicate their values without overt political messaging.
However, it’s clear that the majority of the crowd were already Green Party supporters, drawn by the unique opportunity to party alongside Zack Polanski. This innovative approach, while perhaps not reaching a vast new audience, certainly provided a memorable experience for those who attended and offered a glimpse into a more unconventional political engagement strategy.
