Polanski Defiant Amid Green Party Turmoil After By-Election Loss and Zionism Row

Zack Polanski has insisted he will remain at the helm of the Green Party, brushing aside calls for his resignation following a disappointing by-election result and mounting internal strife over a contentious party motion concerning Zionism. In a series of broadcast interviews on Friday, the Green leader struck a defiant tone, stating he would "absolutely" continue in his role and dismissing any suggestion that his position was in question.

The by-election in Holborn and St Pancras, a constituency previously held by former Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer, was widely viewed as a key target for the Greens. However, Labour's Sagal Abdi-Wali secured a comfortable victory with 45% of the vote, while Polanski trailed in second place with 33%. Despite the loss, the Green share of the vote surged by 22 percentage points compared to the 2024 general election, a silver lining that Polanski was quick to highlight.

Yet the defeat has amplified discontent within the party, particularly over Polanski's handling of a controversial motion passed at the Green Party conference in Brighton. The motion, which defines Zionism as an ideology supporting an "ethnonationalist Jewish state" and advocates for a "single democratic Palestinian state in all of historic Palestine," has sparked a fierce debate about the party's stance on Israel and Palestine. It has also exposed deep divisions among members and senior figures alike.

Vivien Lichtenstein, leader of the Jewish Greens, became the first prominent party figure to publicly call for Polanski's resignation. Speaking to Times Radio, she criticised his decision to avoid the debate on the motion, describing it as a "big mistake." Lichtenstein further questioned Polanski's engagement with Jewish members, stating, "I don't know which Jewish members of the party he's been working with – it certainly hasn't been with the Jewish Greens committee." Her comments underscore the anger felt by some Jewish members who believe the motion is antisemitic and alienates them from the party.

Polanski, who has faced scrutiny for his absence from the conference vote, defended his actions by explaining he was campaigning in North London at the time. He later confirmed that he would not have supported the "imperfect" motion without amendments. However, he stopped short of condemning the motion outright, instead stating that "the displacement and genocide of the Palestinian people is clearly underpinned by a racist ideology." His remarks come amid repeated United Nations reports accusing Israel of war crimes amounting to genocide in Gaza, allegations Israel has consistently denied.

The Green leader's position on Israel's right to exist was also put under the spotlight during an interview on BBC Radio 4's Today programme. Presenter Nick Robinson pressed him repeatedly for a simple "yes" or "no" answer. Polanski responded by saying, "I don't believe any state has the right to oppress or to commit apartheid and certainly not genocide on another people." He added that he wants to see equal rights for Israelis and Palestinians, but his refusal to give a direct answer has only fuelled further criticism.

Former Green Party leader Caroline Lucas, who has been a vocal critic of the motion, described it as "dangerous" and "flawed from top to bottom." She accused Polanski of failing to show leadership on the issue, saying it was "frankly missing." However, Lucas stopped short of calling for his resignation, instead welcoming his later acknowledgment that he shares some of her concerns. "Now the party needs to come together to make the urgent changes needed to take us forward," she said.

Adrian Ramsay, a Green MP and former co-leader, also declined to fully back Polanski when asked about his leadership on the BBC's Politics East programme. He said that "a lot depends on what happens in the days and weeks to come" and admitted that Polanski "did not show leadership I would have been looking for." Ramsay revealed he is now working to reverse the motion, signalling that the internal battle over the party's policy on the Middle East is far from over.

Jonathan Bartley, who served as Green co-leader from 2016 to 2021, called on Polanski to "put his hands up" and apologise, though he too stopped short of demanding his resignation. Bartley told BBC Radio 4's World at One that the vote represented "a failure of leadership from Zack" and warned that "there is a certain toxicity now around the Green Party." He added that the party's brand "needs to be detoxified" following an influx of new members who have "maybe come from the left of the Labour Party."

Behind the scenes, frustration among longstanding Green figures is said to be running high. Some accuse Polanski of being "missing in action" over the motion, while others suggest he is now in an untenable position, leading a party whose Middle East policy he personally disagrees with. One critic noted that he risks "losing the confidence of both wings" – those who support the motion are irritated by his refusal to publicly endorse it, while those who oppose it are dismayed by his initial silence.

The controversy has also reignited debates about the party's direction and its ability to appeal to a broad electorate. The surge in Green vote share in Holborn and St Pancras, despite the loss, suggests the party retains significant momentum in urban areas. However, the internal discord over the Zionism motion threatens to overshadow that progress and distract from the Greens' core messages on climate, social justice, and economic reform.

Polanski's allies argue that his popularity among the grassroots remains strong, making an immediate leadership challenge unlikely. They point to his energetic campaigning and his ability to connect with younger voters as key assets. Yet the episode has exposed a leader who is struggling to balance the expectations of a diverse and increasingly vocal membership with the need for clear, decisive leadership on sensitive international issues.

The coming weeks will be crucial for Polanski and the Green Party. He must navigate the fallout from the by-election defeat, address the deep divisions exposed by the Zionism motion, and reassure both Jewish members and pro-Palestinian activists that their voices are heard. Whether he can achieve that without further alienating key factions remains to be seen. For now, Polanski is digging in, insisting that his movement is "so much bigger than one election or one motion" – a sentiment that will be tested as the party grapples with its most serious internal crisis in years.

The broader political context adds to the pressure. The Greens have sought to position themselves as a credible alternative to Labour, particularly on the left, and the Holborn result, while disappointing, showed they can make significant inroads. But the Zionism row risks painting the party as divided and distracted, undermining its efforts to present a unified front. With local elections on the horizon and a general election not far off, the stakes could hardly be higher for Polanski and his team.

As the party's leadership continues to face questions over its handling of the controversy, the focus will inevitably shift to whether Polanski can repair the damage. His decision to remain in post suggests he believes he can weather the storm. But with criticism coming from both within his own party and beyond, the Green leader faces one of the most challenging periods of his political career. How he responds in the days ahead will determine not only his own future but the direction of the Green Party itself.