Green Party leader Zack Polanski has firmly rejected calls for his resignation following a challenging week marked by a parliamentary by-election defeat and intense internal party conflict over Middle East policy.
Polanski confirmed to media outlets that he intends to remain in his leadership role. His announcement comes after the Green candidate finished second in the Holborn and St Pancras by-election in London. The contest was triggered following the departure of former Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer. Labour candidate Sagal Abdi-Wali secured the constituency with 45 percent of the vote, while Polanski took 33 percent. Despite the second-place finish, the Green campaign highlighted an increase of 22 percent in their vote share compared to the 2024 general election.
The electoral setback coincided with severe internal fallout regarding a controversial policy motion passed by party members at a recent conference in Brighton. The resolution defined Zionism as an ethnonationalist ideology and endorsed a single democratic state across historical Palestine, prompting widespread debate.
Vivien Lichtenstein, the leader of the Jewish Greens, publicly stated that Polanski should step down. Lichtenstein criticized his handling of the situation, arguing that he failed to consult properly with the Jewish Greens committee and made a significant error by avoiding the debate on the conference floor.
Similar criticisms were raised by former Green Party leader Caroline Lucas, who initially argued that Polanski showed a lack of leadership by missing the vote on Sunday. Lucas later softened her tone slightly on social media, acknowledging that his tenure had revitalized the party while expressing hope that he would address internal structural challenges.
Polanski defended his absence from the conference vote, explaining that his attention was fully directed toward the North London by-election campaign. When pressed about the motion, he described it as imperfect and stated he would have sought amendments before voting. However, he maintained that the displacement and suffering of Palestinians are driven by a racist ideology.
During an interview on BBC Radio 4, Polanski faced direct questions regarding whether Israel has a right to exist. He responded that no government possesses the right to oppress, commit apartheid, or engage in genocide against another population. Pressed further for a straightforward confirmation, he emphasized his commitment to equal rights for both Israelis and Palestinians, noting the current inequality faced by Palestinians.
Behind the scenes, numerous veteran Green figures have expressed deep frustration regarding Polanski's absence from the policy debate. Critics within the party argue that his current stance creates a difficult dynamic where he leads an organization bound to a controversial official policy while maintaining personal reservations about the text.
Reporting based on coverage first published by BBC News. Read the original report at BBC News.
