Polanski vows to stay on as Green leader as criticism mounts
Summary
Zack Polanski, leader of the Green Party, lost the recent by-election in Holborn and St Pancras to Labour but said he will remain as party leader. Polanski faced criticism from members of his party over his absence from a vote on a controversial motion declaring Zionism a form of racism, which he defended by citing his election campaign duties.Key Facts
- Polanski came second to Labour’s candidate Sagal Abdi-Wali in the Holborn and St Pancras by-election.
- The Green Party vote share increased by 22% compared to the 2024 general election.
- A party motion passed by members labeled Zionism as supporting "an ethnonationalist Jewish state" and backed a single democratic Palestinian state including Israel.
- Some Green Party members and former leaders criticized Polanski for not attending the vote on the Zionism motion and questioned his leadership.
- Polanski said he would have voted for the motion only if it included clarifications and defended the motion’s claim about racism underpinning the displacement of Palestinians.
- Four out of five Green MPs and some deputy leaders opposed the motion, leading to internal party tensions.
- The next Green Party leadership election is scheduled for summer 2027.
- United Nations reports have accused Israel of committing war crimes in Gaza, but Israel denies these claims.
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