The Greens' vote to treat Zionism as racism brings international fallout. Their leader did not vote
At the Green Party of England and Wales conference in Brighton, members voted 1,022 to 813 for a motion treating Zionism as a form of racism and backing a single democratic Palestinian state. Zack Polanski, the leader, who is Jewish, did not vote, and members rejected amendments he sought. One deputy leader backed the motion and the other opposed it, with four of five MPs against. The Guardian reports international ostracism; The Times that the US will make representations; and Israel's foreign ministry says it has barred Polanski from entering Israel. A party spokesperson told the Independent that such motions have no material impact; the Guardian says the policy is binding on a working group.
The vote exposes a split between members and their leader and most of their MPs, and a fresh dispute over antisemitism in politics.
No change to any policy that affects you. It may affect the party's by-election campaign in Holborn and St Pancras.
Members decided by democratic vote, and the motion criticises a political ideology, not Jewish people.
Critics say the wording harms Jewish members, and the party's own leader and four of five MPs opposed it.
The test is whether the party clarifies that Jewish members who call themselves Zionist are not targeted. A clear statement from the leadership would settle most of it.
DailyDrop U.K. edition No. 2 · Morning · TUE., OCT. 6, 2026