Polanski defends leadership after Zionism row and by-election loss
The Green Party leader has been criticised for his response to a motion passed by members declaring Zionism a form of racism.
By BBC News
Green Party leader Zack Polanski has defended his leadership after former leader Caroline Lucas said he failed to show leadership during a row over the party’s position on Zionism.
The dispute followed a motion passed by members at the Green Party conference in Brighton declaring Zionism a form of racism. The motion was approved by 1,022 votes to 813.
It defines Zionism as an ideology supporting “an ethnonationalist Jewish state” and backs the creation of a single democratic Palestinian state across historic Palestine.
Polanski did not take part in the debate or vote. He left the conference early to campaign in the Holborn and St Pancras by-election, where he stood as the Green candidate.
Four of the party’s five MPs opposed the motion. Polanski had sought changes to the wording, but those amendments were rejected by conference members.
Caroline Lucas told the BBC that Polanski had failed to provide the leadership expected of him during the controversy. Her comments came after polls closed in the by-election.
The Greens conceded defeat in the early hours of Friday, saying Polanski had finished a close second to Labour. The party had been hoping to overturn Labour’s substantial majority in the north London constituency, which was left vacant by former Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer.
Polanski, who is Jewish, has said that antisemitism and criticism of the Israeli state must remain completely distinct. He has also said the Green Party will not accept the exclusion of people based on their religion.
The motion and the by-election result have dominated the final days of Polanski’s campaign for a seat in Parliament.