Green Party membership overtakes Liberal Democrats under new leader

The Green Party now has more members than the Liberal Democrats, despite having 68 fewer MPs in parliament.

Rachel Millward, the party's deputy leader, announced the achievement to members on the second day of the party's annual conference in Bournemouth this morning. It's believed to be only the second time this has happened, with the last time being more than a decade ago - in January 2015.

The Greens have revealed they now have more than 83,500 members, to the Lib Dems 83,174. This is despite Sir Ed Davey's party having 72 MPs in parliament, while the Greens have just four representatives in the Commons.

Around 20,000 new members have joined the Green Party in recent months, leading to a surge in membership of about 20%. Polanski: 'I have undoubtedly accelerated the party's rise' It follows the election of new leader Zack Polanski at the beginning of September.

Mr Polanski, who is not an MP, ran on a platform of bringing about a mass-movement within the party through the form of "eco-populism". Mr Polanski has stated his public ambition is for the party to win more than 30 MPs at the next general election in four years time, and to win himself a seat in parliament.

Announcing the rise in membership, Ms Millward said: "We are now officially the fastest growing political movement in Britain today! "As of right now, I can confirm we are bigger than the Liberal Democrats." This was met with a standing ovation from members, one of several that the deputy leader received during her speech. Speaking to Sky News following his deputy's speech to the conference, Mr Polanski said: "It's phenomenally exciting.

It marks a real moment. It's really striking to me that since I launched my leadership campaign back in May, membership went up 33% and is still going up." Challenged if he believes the sudden rise in membership is entirely down to his own leadership abilities, Mr Polanski responded: "This is a team effort.

"I think for a long time the party's had a very clear direction. I think, undoubtedly, I've accelerated that in terms of the bold politics message, but I know the entire party is on board with that." The Green Party leader used his keynote speech to members on Friday to set out plans for a wealth tax on the assets of the richest 1% "to reduce inequality" and end "rip off Britain".

He also called the conflict in Gaza a genocide - a long-standing Green Party policy - and insisted "we will not be silent". On Saturday, deputy leaders Ms Millward and Mothin Ali addressed members in the morning and, at lunchtime, hundreds of supporters gathered on the beach in Bournemouth in support of Palestinians in Gaza.

Holding up a large red banner that stretched far down the beach, Mr Polanski asked the government where its "red line" was for Israel. Members led several chants from the beach, including the controversial phrase: "From the River to the sea, Palestine will be free." This evening, Mr Polanski will record a live episode of his podcast, Bold Politics, with left-wing commentator, Owen Jones.

Lib Dems: 'Sir Ed Davey is the most popular and the most trusted' The Liberal Democrats' website boasts a membership of "more than 90,000 people.