Board of Deputies of British Jews passes motion declaring Zack Polanski's Greens a 'racist' party

Board of Deputies of British Jews passes motion declaring Zack Polanski's Greens a 'racist' party A Green Party spokesman said the party 'rejects the Board of Deputies’ characterisation of this motion' Sign up to the Politics Newsletter Email address Sign up I agree to receive updates and information about my account, the GB News Community, and related products and services from GB News. By signing up you agree to the Terms and Conditions and Privacy Policy and Community Rules. Thank you for signing up! See the latest from GB News here . Choose GB News on Google - add us as a preferred source Choose GB News Support GB News Champion free speech and independent journalism while unlocking exclusive benefits. Support us The Board of Deputies of British Jews has passed a motion declaring Zack Polanski's Green Party to be "racist". The major Jewish organisation condemned the Green Party of England and Wales over its controversial " Zionism is racism " policy motion passed at its conference earlier this month. Now, the Board of Deputies has passed its own motion by 118 votes to one. It says the Greens had, "by adopting an antisemitic platform, become a racist party". TRENDING Stories Videos Your Say The motion also urged parties not to do deals with the Greens unless they reject the policy. It said forming coalition deals with Greens at the local or national level would be "failing to take antisemitism with the requisite seriousness" unless the party’s local leadership have rejected the policy and committed to overturning it. Earlier this month, Andy Burnham issued an ultimatum to the Greens , saying Labour "cannot support a partnership with a party that holds the position" as he condemned the motion as "antisemitic". But a spokesman for the Greens insisted the party does not discriminate against people who hold Zionist views and rejected the Board of Deputies' "characterisation of this motion and our party". The Green Party passed its controversial 'Zionism is racism' policy at its conference earlier this month | PA And separately, speaking to GB News, Eugene McCarthy, a Green Party activist and former parliamentary candidate, hit back at the Jewish body, accusing it of being "inherently political" with its own "biases". He told GB News: "They repeatedly come out and say things like 'actually opposing any form of immigration restriction is too far beyond the pale and threatening'. "This is the position of that organisation. It's a position which I disagree with." He added that while the group was free to have its own opinions, it was wrong to assume they were representative of all Jewish Britons. THE GREEN PARTY - READ MORE: Scottish Greens leader says 'political wing' of Hamas should NOT be proscribed as terror group London Green councillors encourage people 'inspired by the protests in France' to join demonstration 'Queer migrant' Green politician fails in bid to become rector of historic university Eugene McCarthy accused the Board of Deputies of being an 'inherently political' organisation with its own biases | GB NEWS Mr McCarthy continued: "Obviously, we can have this free debate, but acting like this is the united voice of British Jews. It's just not accurate. British Jews are diverse." Board of Deputies president Phil Rosenberg said the Greens would be treated "accordingly" as a racist party. He said: "No political party has the right to tell Jews that a central part of our identity, rooted in thousands of years of history, faith and peoplehood, is racist. "The Green Party’s policy brands much of our community, including our synagogues and communal organisations, with that slur. It gives prejudice against Jews a political licence. "The Green Party's leadership must now take responsibility for reversing this policy and confronting the antisemitism it has legitimised." He added that those within the party who have opposed the motion deserved to be "heard and supported". Mr Rosenberg continued: "We call on democratic parties and wider civil society to apply the same standards to anti-Jewish racism that they would to any other form of racism." A Green Party spokesman said: "The Green Party does not discriminate against or exclude people for holding Zionist views. "The motion passed at our conference sets out political opposition to the ethnic cleansing and displacement of the Palestinian people. "We reject the Board of Deputies’ characterisation of this motion and our party, which will not stop us from speaking out against the genocide in Gaza and pushing for stronger sanctions against the Israeli government and its leaders." Our Standards: The GB News Editorial Charter Politics SNP splurges eye-watering £27MILLION of taxpayers' money on 'zombie workers' who do not even exist Politics Labour MP calls on colleagues to end infighting and back Home Secretary's immigration plan Politics Angela Rayner says voters will have final say on whether key Brexit promise will be scrapped Politics Britons flock to buy wind-up radios less than 24 hours after Labour stockpiling warning Politics Labour surges to eight-point lead in bombshell poll as John Healey prepares to unveil new tax raids Politics Mayors given new powers to harness 'untapped and waste' potential of England's cities Politics Wes Streeting warns Britain must be ready for war in 1,000 days as Russia fears erupt Politics John Healey 'unveiling billions in defence spending at Budget' — but funding questions raised Politics Nigel Farage accuses Andy Burnham of 'Brexit betrayal' over plot to reimpose free movement with EU Politics John Healey hit with devastating resignation days before Budget as advisor warns of 'Liz Truss-style crisis' Politics Labour gives taxman new powers to raid bank accounts in bid to recover £4billion Politics Tents handed to early release prisoners despite Andy Burnham’s vow to end rough sleeping Politics Scottish Greens leader says 'political wing' of Hamas should NOT be proscribed as terror group Politics Andy Burnham admits politicians have 'a lot to offer' stars of The Traitors in Celebrity Gogglebox appearance Politics Andy Burnham warns Donald Trump on 'coercive' behaviour by Argentina in Falkland Islands Politics Andy Burnham hints at Shabana Mahmood migration U-turn as Cabinet revolt rocks Labour Politics Chagossians could get legal veto over 'surrender deal' with Mauritius after peers vote for draft bill Politics Andy Burnham refuses to back down on Net Zero after green light for North Sea drilling Politics Andy Burnham slaps down Angela Rayner over 'mascara and wine' survival kit as PM defends stockpiling Politics Andy Burnham hits back at Lindsay Hoyle after Speaker's surprise PMQs intervention Politics Tories push for 'national resilience' vote to ban solar panels from prime agricultural land Politics Nigel Farage has a 'woman problem', says Tory frontbencher Victoria Atkins: 'Women can see and smell sexism' Politics Wes Streeting says there is 'no doubt' Vladimir Putin is a 'cold-blooded killer' in veiled swipe at Steve Witkoff Politics Wes Streeting calls on Britons to prepare for food shortages as Labour rolls out emergency initiative for UK Politics Iceland chief blasts Labour as ‘benefits party’ amid decision to rule out ‘crude cuts’ to welfare bill Politics Labour finally reveals full cost of asylum seeker 'how not to rape' guide after ignoring GB News Politics Burka ban debate sparks fury in Welsh Parliament as Reform compared to Nazis for 'anti-British' claim Exclusive Politics Kemi Badenoch demands John Healey’s resignation if his Budget fails to deliver defence spending promise Politics 'He is not a serious Prime Minister!' Andy Burnham slammed after Celebrity Gogglebox announcement Politics UK Government websites taken offline amid cyber security threat