Jewish groups warn Greens not to become 'overtly antisemitic' party as Zionism motion looms at Brighton conference
From the Newshound archive · first published 2 October 2026 · last updated 3 October 2026.
Zack Polanski, who pointedly declined to address the motion or antisemitism concerns of Jewish Green members in his conference speech, leads a party now warned it risks becoming the first electorally significant UK…
Britain's three leading Jewish organisations have written to Zack Polanski warning the Green Party against adopting what they call an "overtly antisemitic political platform" ahead of a Sunday vote on a motion declaring Zionism to be racism. The Board of Deputies, the Jewish Leadership Council and the Community Security Trust told Polanski the motion would make the Greens the first electorally significant UK party in living memory to embrace institutionalised antisemitism. Former Green leaders Caroline Lucas and Adrian Ramsay have also condemned the proposal, warning it will cause serious division.
The motion, if passed, would treat Zionism 'as any other form of racism' — potentially exposing Jewish members who attend synagogues to disciplinary action.
Polanski insisted the party is 'absolutely united' on Gaza but told the BBC that Zionism, defined as the displacement of Palestinians, is 'clearly racism'.
The row threatens to overshadow Polanski's bid to win Holborn and St Pancras from Labour in a by-election next Thursday.
