Green Party leader Zack Polanski and by-election candidate Hannah Spencer have faced mockery online after an emotional podcast episode saw both politicians crying whilst discussing the candidate’s four greyhounds during the campaign for the Gorton and Denton seat.
Social media users reacted with scepticism after Polanski promoted a clip from his Bold Politics podcast showing the tearful exchange, with one sarcastically writing: “These are exactly the sort of people you want to take on tough international negotiations.”
Another critic stated: “I love dogs. I’ve cried when I’ve lost them, cats too. But the person we put in charge to be strong in the face of Russia, China, America .. is not some soppy **** that weeps over the memory of someone else’s dog for ****sake.”
The episode featured Spencer, a plumber and local councillor, becoming emotional whilst discussing her first greyhound, Graham. She welled up as she explained he “taught me a lot about acceptance” during a difficult period in her life.
Spencer told the podcast: “There is a bit of Graham in all of us, we just want to be accepted and we just want to be happy and we just want to be safe.”
Polanski then broke down in response to Spencer talking about how much her greyhounds mean to her, stating: “I think I’m crying for the greyhounds and I’m also crying to get you into parliament with that level of determination is exactly what this country needs, not just for greyhounds but for everyone.”
The Green Party leader promoted the podcast on X by claiming they were “real people who are unafraid to just be themselves for an hour because they know they don’t have to protect any vested interests.” However, the clip drew widespread criticism rather than the positive response Polanski appeared to anticipate.
A poll released this week found fewer than a third of Green Party voters would want Polanski to serve as prime minister. More than four in 10 respondents polled by More in Common stated they did not want any main party leader to have power in Number 10.
The emotional podcast comes as Spencer campaigns to win the Gorton and Denton by-election on February 26 in what has become a three-way contest between Labour, the Greens and Reform UK. Earlier this week, Polanski urged voters in the Greater Manchester seat to choose “hope” over “hate” in an election he characterizes as a race between the Greens and Reform.
Labour has also pitched itself as the anti-Reform candidate in the contest. Party sources are attempting to put a positive spin on prospects of holding a seat Labour won with a 13,000 majority in 2024, despite polls suggesting the contest has tightened considerably.
The by-election takes place against the backdrop of declining support for Labour nationally and growing momentum for both Reform UK and the Green Party in traditionally safe Labour constituencies across northern England. Gorton and Denton represents a test of whether Labour can maintain its urban strongholds whilst facing challenges from both left and right.
Spencer’s candidacy as a local councillor and plumber represents the Green Party’s strategy of fielding working-class candidates with community connections to challenge Labour’s dominance. The podcast appearance was likely intended to humanize Spencer and demonstrate authenticity, though the emotional discussion about greyhounds prompted ridicule rather than sympathy from critics.
Voting takes place on February 26 with results expected in the early hours of February 27.
