Greens may not review racism policy until autumn 2028
The Green Party may be unable to revisit its “Zionism is Racism” policy until autumn 2028, despite leader Zack Polanski saying he wants members to reconsider it. The timing matters because the policy, approved at the party’s conference, has drawn fierce criticism and intensified pressure on Polanski after the Greens lost the Holborn and St Pancras by-election to Labour.
Under party rules, the Standing Orders Committee could reject a motion for the spring conference if it significantly amends a policy passed less than a year and nine months earlier. The party said members can submit motions, with the committee deciding whether they meet the rules. Polanski said he would have supported an amended version of the motion, but abstained on the one passed; he also declined to say whether he believed Israel should exist. An Opinium poll put his net personal rating at minus 29, down seven points in a week.
- Greens may have to wait until autumn 2028 to change the policy.
- Polanski says he wants members to reconsider it.
- His net rating fell seven points to minus 29.
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The Green Party approved a policy at its conference stating that "Zionism is Racism". This position has drawn criticism. The party's new leader, Zack Polanski, has said he wants members to reconsider the policy.
The issue has become more prominent following the Greens' recent loss of the Holborn and St Pancras seat to Labour. Polanski's ambiguous position on Israel and his abstention in the original vote have drawn scrutiny, with his personal approval ratings falling significantly in recent polling.
The Green Party operates under standing orders that govern how quickly policies can be reconsidered after approval. The Standing Orders Committee can reject motions to amend policies approved in the previous 21 months. This procedural framework affects the timing of any potential policy review.
Both sides, in good faith
The strongest fair case each way — we don't pick a winner.
The case for
Those defending the policy argue it represents an important stance against what they view as discriminatory Israeli government policies warranting comparison to historical racism. They contend that the policy, democratically approved through proper party procedures, should not be hastily abandoned under electoral pressure, as doing so would constitute capitulation to those who conflate legitimate criticism of Israel with antisemitism and suppress Palestinian advocacy within the party.
The case against
Those supporting policy review argue that equating Zionism itself with racism is unnecessarily broad, conflating the political ideology of Israel's existence with specific government policies, and risks perceptions of antisemitism whilst alienating Jewish party members. They maintain that given the electoral damage and leadership credibility issues the policy has created, the party should reconsider positions that undermine both its public standing and its commitment to being inclusive of all communities, including Jewish supporters of Israel's right to exist.
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Originally published by Daily Mail as “Greens ‘could be stuck with Zionism is Racism policy for TWO YEARS’ – as Zack Polanski’s personal ratings hit new low”.