Green Party Leader Polanski Faces Resignation Calls After By-Election Loss and Zionism Row

Electoral Setback and Internal Crisis

Zack Polanski, leader of the Green Party, came second in the Holborn and St Pancras by-election in London, losing to Labour candidate Sagal Abdi-Wali, who secured 45% of the vote compared to Polanski's 33%. Despite the defeat in the seat previously held by former Prime Minister Keir Starmer, the Greens improved their vote share by 22% compared to the 2024 general election, suggesting some underlying strength. However, the electoral disappointment coincided with an intensifying internal party crisis that overshadowed the campaign itself.

Polanski declared his intention to remain as party leader, stating he would "absolutely" continue in the role despite mounting pressure from senior figures within the Green Party to step down. The leadership challenge stems not from the election loss but from his handling of a controversial party conference motion adopted by rank-and-file members that defines Zionism as an ideology supporting an "ethnonationalist Jewish state" and backs a "single democratic Palestinian state in all of historic Palestine"—effectively encompassing modern-day Israel.

The Zionism Motion and Leadership Response

The motion, which became official party policy following the conference vote, has generated significant backlash both inside and outside the party. The policy declares Zionism a form of racism and states that displacement and genocide of Palestinians are underpinned by racist ideology. Polanski publicly distanced himself from the position, saying he would have voted only for an amended version of the motion with additional caveats, though he acknowledged the core claims about Palestinian displacement and genocide as "obvious."

Vivien Lichtenstein, leader of the Jewish Greens, called for Polanski's resignation, characterizing his non-engagement with the motion as a "big mistake" and noting he had not worked with the Jewish Greens committee on the matter. Former Green Party leader Caroline Lucas similarly criticized Polanski for failing to attend the conference vote on Sunday and called the motion "dangerous" and "flawed from top to bottom." Later, Lucas offered qualified praise for Polanski's broader leadership record, saying he had "transformed the party" while hoping he would address the underlying structural issues that led to the motion's passage.

Internal Fractures and Grassroots Support

Behind closed doors, numerous longtime Green figures expressed frustration, describing Polanski as "missing in action" and accusing him of creating an untenable situation by leading a party whose Middle East policy he personally rejects. Some observers noted he faces the unusual predicament of losing confidence from both ideological wings—supporters of the motion are irritated by his refusal to endorse it publicly, while critics demand he actively oppose or reverse it.

Four of the five Green MPs and one of the party's two deputy leaders opposed the motion; the party's deputy leader in Wales resigned in response. Some councillors and local members have similarly distanced themselves, and the European Green Party has also stepped away from the policy. However, Polanski may retain sufficient security in his position given the substantial influx of new members who have joined since he became leader and his apparent popularity among grassroots supporters, making a near-term leadership challenge unlikely.

Broader Party Reckoning

Jonathan Bartley, former Green co-leader from 2016 to 2021, acknowledged a "failure of leadership" by Polanski but stopped short of demanding his resignation, instead calling on him to "put his hands up" and apologize. Bartley raised concerns about a "certain toxicity" surrounding the party and argued the Green brand needed to be "detoxified." He pointed to membership changes, suggesting the party has attracted members from the left of the Labour Party and from Jeremy Corbyn's organization, potentially alienating older voters.

Meanwhile, external pressure mounted: Prime Minister Andy Burnham called the motion "completely wrong" and urged Polanski to reverse it to prevent it from appearing in the party's next election manifesto. Labour chair Bridget Phillipson drew parallels to her own party's previous antisemitism scandal, characterizing the Greens as now facing a "serious problem" with antisemitism. Polanski has maintained that anti-Zionism and antisemitism are distinct categories and stated that no member will be excluded based on faith, worship, or religious affiliation.

When pressed on whether Israel has a right to exist, Polanski declined a direct yes-or-no response, instead emphasizing his commitment to equal rights for Israelis and Palestinians and suggesting that current Palestinian inequality made his position clear. The standoff highlights fundamental tensions within the party between its leadership and membership on Israel-Palestine policy, with no clear resolution visible in the immediate term.