Zack Polanski's Greens lose 20,000 members over 'Zionism is racism' motion as councillors defect to rival parties

The Green Party has shed 20,000 members since passing the 'Zionism is racism' motion at its Brighton conference on 4 October, with councillors defecting to Labour and the Liberal Democrats and senior figures warning the party is being taken over by pro-Palestinian activists. Polling has collapsed and power-sharing deals with Labour in cities including Sheffield now hang by a thread.

Labour chair Bridget Phillipson warned all local power-sharing agreements with the Greens will end unless the party reverses the motion, with Sheffield's fate to be decided next Wednesday.

TV Chase star Anne Hegerty called Green leaders 'a***holes', while Newquay Mayor Drew Creek quit to join Labour, saying Polanski had 'doubled down' and 'crossed a line'.

Motion author Lubna Speitan defended the policy by calling the Labour government 'a participant in genocide' with 'no moral high ground' on antisemitism.