Burnham brands Greens 'antisemitic' at PMQs and rules out any post-election deal over 'Zionism is racism' motion
Zack Polanski, whose Green Party poll rating has slumped to nine points since a member vote declared Zionism a form of racism cost him the Holborn and St Pancras by-election.A post on X by Heidi Bachram welcoming Andy Burnham's Commons remarks, as the Prime Minister ruled out any coalition with the Greens while their "Zionism is racism" motion stands — a firmer position than he took during…
Andy Burnham used Prime Minister's Questions on Wednesday to condemn the Green Party's conference motion declaring 'Zionism is racism' as "wrong" and "antisemitic", ruling out any future partnership with Zack Polanski's party while the policy stands. Burnham had resisted making the explicit declaration for weeks, previously calling on the Greens to "reverse" the motion without ruling out cooperation. The PMQs moment came after Tory MP Dame Harriet Baldwin pressed him to match Kemi Badenoch's categorical rejection of deals with Reform UK.
The motion, passed at the Greens' Brighton conference 10 days ago, has triggered a party civil war, with three former leaders — Caroline Lucas, Adrian Ramsay and Carla Denyer — condemning it as divisive and alienating to Jewish members.
Polanski, who missed the Brighton vote while campaigning in a by-election, fired back on X, calling Burnham "a prime minister who arms a genocide" and accusing him of "irresponsible blurring" between challenging Israel and antisemitism.
Questions remain over whether Burnham's pledge covers the 14 existing local government pacts between Labour and the Greens — a question the PM has so far refused to answer.
