Full Breakdown
Green Party Leader Calls for Structural Reform After Controversial Zionism Motion and By-Election Loss
By Drooid · · How we work
Core Event
The motion passed by 1,022 votes to 813, representing roughly 0.4 % of the party’s 250,000-strong membership. The vote occurred on October 4.
The same weekend, party leader Zack Polanski campaigned in the Holborn and St Pancras by-election, finishing second to Labour with about 33 % of the vote. After the defeat, Polanski announced a proposal to give the leader greater authority over strategic direction and policy development.
Background & Context
Polanski was elected Green leader in September 2025, shortly before membership surged from under 70,000 to more than 200,000. The growth has intensified debate over the party’s grassroots decision-making model, which traditionally places policy power in the hands of conference delegates. Senior figures warned that a small, highly motivated minority can now shape policy, a concern that resurfaced after the Zionism motion.
Data & Statistics
- Motion result: 1,022 yes vs. 813 no.
- By-election outcome: Labour 45 %, Polanski 33 %.
- Membership increase: from ~68,000 to >200,000 within a year.
Official Statements & Responses
Polanski told BBC Breakfast that the motion was “imperfect” and that he would have supported an amended version, while rejecting the unamended text.
The Green Party’s internal rules state that motions passed by members become official policy but are not automatically incorporated into future election manifestos.
The Israeli government announced a ban on Polanski, labeling the motion “antisemitic.” The Board of Deputies of British Jews and the Jewish Leadership Council similarly condemned the policy as an attack on the Jewish community.
Criticism & Opposition
- Vivien Lichtenstein, chair of the Jewish Greens, called on Polanski to resign, describing his avoidance of the conference debate as a “big mistake.”
- Caroline Lucas, former Green leader, criticized Polanski for missing the vote and urged him to show the leadership that was “missing on Sunday.”
Verbatim Quotes
- “I put all my energy into the race in Holborn and St Pancras, despite Labour choosing the polling date so close to our conference, because I know that ultimately electoral success is how we drive change. I know, though, that some feel let down by that decision – and I hear that.” — Zack Polanski, *The Guardian*
- “I don’t think that policy, ‘Zionism is racism’, represents the large majority of Green party members, nor of people in the country,” — Ellie Chowns, *The Guardian*
What’s Next
The Green Party’s constitution requires a leadership election every two years; the next contest is scheduled for the summer of 2027. In the interim, senior members have signaled a willingness to collaborate with Polanski to revise internal procedures, though the motion’s status as official party policy remains a point of contention within the party and among its European affiliates.