Greens stuck with 'Zionism is Racism' policy for years

Summarised from 3 outlets · Updated 11 Oct, 15:24 · Archive

The Green Party may be unable to change its controversial 'Zionism is Racism' policy for up to two years under party rules.

The Green Party's 'Zionism is Racism' policy, approved at its autumn conference in Brighton last weekend, may not be changeable for up to two years under party rules, despite leader Zack Polanski saying he wants to alter it at the 'earliest opportunity'.

The party's Standing Orders Committee would decide whether a new motion could be debated at the spring conference in Leeds in March. However, party rules suggest a bid should be rejected if it 'significantly amends the principles passed in a policy motion or voting paper less than one year and nine months previously', according to the Telegraph. That would mean no change is possible until the autumn conference in 2028. Party sources told the Daily Mail there were too many 'variables' to say definitively when the policy could be altered.

The controversy has damaged the party's political standing. An Opinium poll for the Observer found the Greens on nine percentage points, their lowest share since Polanski became leader a year ago, down from 16 points during May's local elections. Support among voters aged 18 to 34 fell from 28 per cent to 14 per cent in five months. Polanski also lost the Holborn and St Pancras by-election to Labour, which retained the seat with a majority of 3,000 votes.

How it is being reported

• Zack Polanski signals Green party overhaul after row over Zionism voteRapid growth means structures need to change and give leaders greater control, Polanski says in Guardian article Zack Polanski: How we’re transforming British politics Zack Polanski has signalled a potential overhaul of the Green party’s cherished grassroots democracy, calling for leaders to have greater control over strategic direction after a divisive vote equating Zionism with racism. The Green party leader has also questioned whether political parties should seek to define what members believe, in his strongest criticism yet of a motion that has provoked bitter divisions, international…Guardian World · 11 Oct, 16:00
• Blow To Zack Polanski As Poll Puts Green Party Support Into Single FiguresGreen Party leader Zack Polanski is interviewed by a member of the media on the final day of the Green Party Conference, at Bournemouth International Centre on October 05, 2025 in Bournemouth, England. The Greens have dropped to just nine percentage points in one devastating poll days after losing a crunch by-election and facing major backlash over a controversial party conference. An Opinium survey for the Observer put the left-wing party on their lowest share of the vote since Zack Polanski was elected as Green leader a year ago. It’s a steep decline compared to where the party were during…HuffPost UK · 11 Oct, 15:09
• Greens 'could be stuck with Zionism is Racism policy for TWO YEARS' - as Zack Polanski's personal ratings hit new lowZack Polanski has been struggling to defuse a storm over the stance approved at the party conference in Brighton last weekend.Daily Mail · 11 Oct, 11:48

In this story: Zack Polanski · Green Party · Brighton · Holborn and St Pancras · Labour · Leeds

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