Polanski refuses to say Israel has the right to exist as close friend calls him a 'coward' and demands he quits
From the Newshound archive · first published 9 October 2026 · last updated 10 October 2026.
A YouGov poll found a third of Britons want him out, against just one in five who think he should stay. Former leader Caroline Lucas accused him of a failure of leadership, while Jewish Greens chairwoman Vivien Lichtenstein told Times Radio: 'I think he should resign.'
Polanski skipped his own party's conference vote on the 'Zionism is racism' motion, claiming his by-election campaign took priority.
Joshua Alston, a close friend and former chairman of the Jewish Greens, wrote: 'Zack Polanski is my friend, but he is also a coward — and political leadership requires courage.'
The Greens have fallen from 21% in some polls to around 10-11% since their February high, and Polanski is now less popular than Nigel Farage.
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MetroZack Polanski loses bid to become MP and claim Keir Starmer's old seatLBCZack Polanski’s gamble didn’t pay off - is it all over?Daily Mail NewsPolanksi on the ropes: Green Party leader is left fighting for his political future after humiliating by-election defeatThe Telegraph‘I didn’t leave the party, the party left me’: The great Green exodusThe IndependentOne in three Brits thinks Polanski should resign after by-election defeat, poll showsEvening StandardPolanski under pressure over by-election defeat and ‘Zionism is racism’ motionThe GuardianDoes Polanski have to go? Greens at the crossroads after Holborn and St PancrasThe IndependentZack Polanski has been crushed by the Burnham BounceGB NewsZack Polanski refuses to say Israel has right to exist as close friend calls for his resignationThe Independent‘Dysfunctional’ Green Party leaves voters cold in Holborn and St Pancras after ‘Zionism is racism’ controversyThe IndependentZack Polanski facing calls to quit as Green Party leader after by-election defeatEvening StandardJewish Greens leader calls for Polanski to resign over ‘dereliction of duty’
