The Green Party’s decision at its annual conference to define Zionism as a form of racism has ignited a firestorm of criticism, with the government’s antisemitism tsar warning that the move surpasses any controversy seen under Jeremy Corbyn’s Labour leadership. Jewish leaders, US officials and legal experts have all voiced alarm, arguing that the policy threatens British Jews, risks breaching equality law and could isolate the party politically. The controversy comes as party leader Zack Polanski prepares to contest a crucial by‑election in Holborn and St Pancras.
Lord Mann’s stark warning
John Mann, the government’s appointed antisemitism tsar, told The Independent that the Greens had gone “well beyond anything ever tried under Jeremy Corbyn”. He described the treatment of some Jewish members and supporters as “something unprecedented in Westminster since the Second World War”. Mann went on to characterise the party as increasingly becoming a “sect”, a direction he said fundamentally contradicts its environmental and ecological ethos. He added an ironic twist, noting that the policy’s closest analogue is the stance of Israel’s national security minister Itamar Ben‑Gvir, who also advocates a single state rather than a two‑state solution.
Reactions from the Jewish community and allies
The chief rabbi, Sir Ephraim Mirvis, labelled the vote a “threat to British Jews and to Britain”. The chair of Jewish Greens said she is actively considering leaving the party over the decision, while former leader Caroline Lucas confessed she was “so deeply sad” that the motion passed. In Scotland, the sister party’s endorsement prompted Murdo Fraser, a Scottish Conservative MSP, to declare on X that no mainstream Scottish party should now associate with the “extremist antisemitic Scottish Greens”. Senior Labour figures have also urged Andy Burnham to rule out any future collaboration with the Greens.
International and legal repercussions
Washington’s top adviser on antisemitism, Rabbi Yehuda Kaploun, announced that the United States will make “representations” to the UK government concerning the policy. Meanwhile, leading barrister Adam Wagner KC warned that the motion carries a strong risk of contravening the Equality Act 2010. Zack Polanski, who did not vote on the resolution, has reportedly been barred from entering Israel in retaliation, a move that underscores the diplomatic fallout.
Impact on Polanski’s political future
Despite the turmoil, Polanski sought to reassure members, stating: “Under my leadership, no one will be made unwelcome because of their background, their faith, or where they worship. As leader, my role is to bring people together and ensure we are all working in unity for the things we believe in and care about: freedom and safety for all.” He also recalled his pride in standing as a Jewish party leader alongside his deputy leaders Mothin and Rachel, emphasising shared values of compassion, fairness and equality. The statement comes as Polanski prepares to challenge Keir Starmer in the Holborn and St Pancras by‑election scheduled for Thursday, a contest that could now be shaped by the fallout from the Zionism debate.
Why it Matters
The Green Party’s vote to equate Zionism with racism is more than an internal policy shift; it signals a potential realignment of British left‑wing politics that could alienate key voter bases, provoke legal challenges and strain international relations. As the party’s leader faces a pivotal by‑election, the controversy may determine whether the Greens can maintain their broad‑appeal environmental message or become defined by a divisive stance that risks isolating them from mainstream politics and the communities they purport to represent.
