Greens 'could be stuck with Zionism is Racism policy for TWO YEARS' - as Zack Polanski's personal ratings hit new low

The Greens might not be able to change their 'Zionism is Racism' policy for two years - despite Zack Polanski admitting he wants to. The leader has been struggling to defuse a storm over the stance approved at the party conference in Brighton last weekend. A chastened Mr Polanski insisted on Friday that he wanted to change the position - which implies the destruction of the Israeli state - at the 'earliest opportunity'. The comments came as he struggles to cling on to his role, after humiliatingly losing the Holborn & St Pancras by-election to Labour. New polling has found his popularity has slumped again after the latest chaos. However, doubts have been raised over how quickly the policy can be changed under party rules. The Greens might not be able to change their 'Zionism is Racism' policy for two years - despite Zack Polanski admitting he wants to New polling has found Mr Polanski's popularity has slumped again after the latest chaos The Standing Orders Committee would decide whether a new motion could be debated at the Greens' spring conference, scheduled for Leeds in March. But its rules suggest a bid should be rejected if it 'significantly amends the principles passed in a policy motion or voting paper less than one year and nine months previously', according to the Telegraph. That would mean no change is possible until Autumn conference in 2028. Party sources told the Daily Mail there were too many 'variables' to say 'definitely' when the policy could be altered. A Green spokesman said: 'We're a democratic party. Any member can submit a motion to change existing party policy, to be voted on by the membership. 'It is up to our Standing Orders Committee to rule motions going to conference in or out of order according to our constitution.' Facing the media after the by-election on Friday, Mr Polanski insisted he was 'absolutely' planning to stay on as leader. He again defended leaving the conference and abstaining on the Zionism motion - which has been condemned as anti-Semitic by critics. Mr Polanski - who is Jewish - said he had been fighting 'one of the most important elections in our recent history and people in that election said they wanted to see me on the ground'. Pressed if he supported the motion, Mr Polanski told Sky News: 'I would have supported the motion as amended. It wasn't amended, so no.' But he added: 'Ultimately, I agree with the substance of the motion. Where I disagree is the idea the Green Party should be deciding what the future of the region looks like.' Your browser does not support iframes. On BBC Radio 4's Today programme, Mr Polanski repeatedly refused to say whether he believed the state of Israel should exist. 'What I want is to see a safe space for Israelis and Palestinians,' he said. But he added: 'At the earliest possible opportunity, I do want, at a conference motion, to see us go back to a process where Israelis and Palestinians decide the future of their region. 'Now, that's up to members because we're a grassroots party.' One of the five Green MPs, Ellie Chowns, said yesterday there had been a 'lack of leadership' from Mr Polanski on the Zionism motion. She warned the party must ensure it was not 'vulnerable to capture by extremists and racists'. The motion passed at the Brighton conference with around 1,000 members voting in favour and some 800 against - suggesting on a very small proportion of activists participated. Ms Chowns told the BBC: 'I think it is clear that if we have policy, such significant and damaging policy, made by a vote of just 0.4 per cent of our members, that something isn't working in our structures and our policy-making process. 'And I don't think that policy 'Zionism as racism' represents the views of the large majority of Green Party members, nor of people in the country. 'And I do think that it's a problem that this has come to dominate the conversation about the Green Party over the past week.' Asked if there were 'extremists and racists' entering the Greens that needed to be dealt with, she said: 'I don't know if there are extremists and racists in my party, but I want to make sure that my party isn't vulnerable to capture by extremists and racists. 'I want to make sure that my party's policies represent the views of the majority of members of the Green Party who absolutely are not that sort of person at all.' Opinium research released this weekend found Mr Polanski's personal ratings fell another seven points over the past week, to a net score of minus 29. That makes him the most unpopular main party leader, behind Nigel Farage.