Green Party leader Zack Polanski was booed at a Holborn and St Pancras by-election hustings after describing himself as anti-Zionist and saying Zionism was racism “in practice” if defined by the displacement and alleged genocide of Palestinians. He also said Israel’s actions in Gaza amounted to genocide and argued that labelling criticism of Israel as antisemitic could make British Jews less safe, prompting criticism from other candidates and attendees.

The event took place less than two weeks before the by-election and was organised by Jewish community organisations. It came as Green Party activists prepare to debate a motion calling Zionism racism, supporting a single Palestinian state across historic Palestine and proposing boycotts and sanctions against Israel; Polanski has said the motion, in its current form, would be a distraction. Conservative candidate Ewan Cameron urged greater context when discussing Hamas, Gaza, Israel and the 7 October attacks, while the Reform candidate was applauded for saying Britain was not taking antisemitism seriously enough.