Green Party leader Zack Polanski has called on the UK government to spend £476 million on what he describes as a “kindness” and humanitarian response to migrants crossing the English Channel. The proposal will form the core of his first Christmas message to the nation, where he argues that current spending focused on enforcement and deterrence has failed.
According to Mr Polanski, the money should be redirected from policies he says are based on cruelty towards a system built on compassion, dignity and humanity. The £476 million figure refers to funds committed by the former Conservative government to a three-year agreement with France aimed at stopping small boat crossings.
That funding included £184 million allocated for 2025–26 and was meant to support increased beach patrols, a joint UK-France command centre and a detention facility designed to prevent migrants from leaving French shores. Mr Polanski believes this approach has not reduced crossings and has instead worsened living conditions for migrants.
In the days leading up to Christmas, the Green Party leader spent three days in Calais, where he said he witnessed French police, funded by British taxpayers, slashing migrant tents and confiscating wooden materials used to keep warm in freezing temperatures. He described the scenes as deeply disturbing and unnecessary.
In his Christmas speech, which will be broadcast at the same time as the King’s annual address, Mr. Polanski is expected to strongly criticise the political rhetoric surrounding migration. He says migrants are often demonised despite fleeing war, poverty, and unsafe conditions.
He will argue that slogans such as “stopping the boats” and “smashing the gangs” have failed to deliver results and instead increased human suffering. According to him, a humane approach would save lives, reduce costs, and restore the UK’s moral standing.
Mr Polanski will also call on the public to donate to the Calais Appeal, a group of charities providing food, shelter, and medical support to migrants living around northern French ports.
Beyond migration, the Green leader has also restated his republican views, saying the monarchy represents inequality in British society. While he admits abolishing the monarchy is not his immediate priority, he says tackling inequality and the rising cost of living remain central to his political mission.
The message comes amid growing national debate over immigration and the UK’s membership of the European Convention on Human Rights. Conservative and Reform UK leaders have both pledged to leave the convention, claiming it blocks deportations. However, rights groups argue the ECHR protects basic freedoms for everyone in the UK.
Recent comments from the head of the Equality and Human Rights Commission also warned that portraying migration as a major threat harms not only migrants but ethnic minority British citizens as well.
Since Mr Polanski’s election less than four months ago, the Green Party has seen a sharp rise in membership. Recent polls suggest the party is gaining ground, putting pressure on both Labour and the Conservatives as public debate over migration, human rights, and social justice continues to intensify.