Green Party divided over Zionism motion as leader faces by‑election defeat
At the party’s Brighton conference members adopted a motion that characterises Zionism as an ethnonationalist ideology and calls for a single democratic Palestinian state over historic Palestine. The motion has provoked condemnation from senior party figures and has been described as dangerous and divisive. Leader Zack Polanski, who was absent from the vote while campaigning in the Holborn and St Pancras by‑election, said he would have supported the motion had it been amended and called the original wording imperfect. After the by‑election, in which Labour won with 45% and the Greens received 33%, Polanski said he will stay on as leader, while former leaders such as Caroline Lucas have warned the result could jeopardise his position.
How this was covered
- Coverage peaked at 6 outlets in a single hour
Why it matters
The dispute highlights how contentious foreign‑policy positions can split a growing party and influence its electoral fortunes.
How the sides frame it
MODERATE AGREEMENTLeft-leaning coverage condemns the motion as wrong and anti-Jewish, right-leaning coverage labels it extremist and a betrayal of liberal values, while centrist coverage mostly reports the vote and reactions without strong judgment.
LEFT
Condemns the motion as "completely wrong", dangerous and anti-Jewish, arguing it undermines the Greens' credibility and harms the two-state solution.
CENTER
Reports the motion’s passage (1,022-813), Burnham’s call to overturn it, and internal party split, presenting statements from leaders without overt judgment.
RIGHT
Frames the motion as extremist, anti-Jewish and a betrayal of liberal values, warning it legitimises terrorism and harms Jewish safety.
The left emphasises
- "completely wrong"
- dangerous
- anti-Jewish problem
The right emphasises
- extremist
- anti-Jewish
- betrayal of liberal values
How this story developed
- Sep 22 Green Party leader clashes with pro-Palestinian motion calling for Israel's dissolution
- Oct 2 Polanski publicly declared an anti‑Zionist stance at a hustings event.
- Oct 4 The conference established a locked safe room for Jewish participants amid the Zionism debate.
- Oct 4 The motion passed with 1,022 votes for and 813 against, adopting language that labels Zionism as racism and endorses a single democratic Palestinian state throughout historic Palestine.
- Oct 5 Israel’s foreign ministry announced a ban on Green Party leader Zack Polanski from entering Israel.
- Oct 7 The European Green Party publicly rejected the UK Greens' resolution.
- Oct 9 The Greens lost the Holborn and St Pancras by‑election following the adoption of the Zionism motion.
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