Green Party leader Zack Polanski says controversial Zionism motion will stay until 2028

Green Party leader Zack Polanski has confirmed he will not overturn a party motion that declared Zionism a form of racism, stating it must remain policy until 2028 under party rules. The motion was passed at the party conference in Brighton by 1,022 votes to 813, involving a small fraction of the party's 230,000 members, and also backed a single democratic state in historic Palestine, an arms embargo on Israel, and Palestinian liberation.

Reaction

The decision drew sharp criticism from multiple quarters, including former Green co-leader Adrian Ramsay, who called for a full member ballot, and Board of Deputies president Phil Rosenberg, who accused Polanski of erasing Jewish identity and experience. Prime Minister Andy Burnham described the motion as antisemitic, while Labour announced plans to end power-sharing agreements with the Greens on local councils unless local councillors disown it. Polanski, who is Jewish, stated he is not sorry for his handling of the row and that Jewish Green members will not be excluded based on their faith or background.

Context

Internal party debates over foreign policy and Middle East stances frequently create deep political friction and public fallout for political groups in the UK. Rules governing party conferences often dictate how long adopted policies must stay in place before members can vote to change them again.