How pro-Palestine activists tried to take over the Green Party

Pro-Palestinian activists ran an organised campaign inside the Green Party to recruit members, secure influential party positions and reshape its policies from within, The Times can reveal. More than five and a half hours of recordings of weekly Greens for Palestine meetings showed members speaking of “using the party” and attempting to ensure those supportive of their position gained key party roles. Most commented 1 The flag that gives moral licence to hatred Columnists 325 comments 2 Labour risks losing working class over net zero, says business secretary Politics 273 comments 3 Kemi Badenoch’s Disraeli vibes are mighty tempting Columnists 104 comments 4 Peter Brookes’s Times cartoon: October 10, 2026 Cartoons 86 comments 5 UK AI safety law to stop ‘loss of control’ over autonomous agents Technology 13 comments Shahrar Ali, a former deputy leader who is suspended from the party, accused the organisers of “internal political manipulation with scant regard for the integrity of democratic process”. He claimed it was “naked entryism that is corrupting the party beyond recognition”. Shahrar Ali Mark Kerrison/Alamy Another longstanding party member said there was “clear evidence” of “a highly organised campaign by a small number of infiltrators to take over the party’s key votes and committees”. Top stories 1 Starbucks ‘explores takeover’ of Chipotle Mexican Grill US business Green membership rose from 100,000 in October to more than 215,000 by March, but there have been increasing concerns over the focus on the war in Gaza. Adrian Ramsay, a former co-leader and Green MP, has said the party should return to its “core purpose: protecting and restoring the natural environment”. Advertisement In the Greens for Palestine meetings Animah Kosai, one of the co-chairs, said: “I don’t believe in serving the Green Party, and I think some people are going to hate me for this. I actually believe in using the party in order to reach certain goals. And in this case, for Palestine, for anti-imperialism.” Animah Kosai discusses the pro-Palestine campaign Greens for Palestine is not an official party grouping but has many members. Mothin Ali, the party’s deputy leader, was present on at least one of the calls. Top stories 1 Mortgage rates dip after weeks of painful rises Mortgages 2 ‘My husband’s family want us to pay £500 towards his sister’s holiday’ Ask Times Money Lubna Speitan, one of the proposers of the “Zionism is racism” motion passed at the party’s conference on Sunday, said: “I’m going to knock on every door and just talk about Palestine […] It’s about the quality of membership and who we want to bring into this party.” She said that as part of campaigning for the Greens the group should “take our own flyers and leaflets with us — ‘come and join us for Palestine’”. She added: “This is our party and nothing’s going to say that quite as much and as well as more people like us being in here.” Lubna Speitan Shutterstock Greens for Palestine said that “at no point” were the group’s flyers handed out “alongside normal canvassing Green Party materials”. Advertisement It emerged this week that Speitan was described in US court documents as a “close friend” of an al-Qaeda terrorist who plotted to carry out a suicide bomb attack at Heathrow airport. Asked by The Daily Telegraph whether she remained friends with the man, Speitan said: “Yes, it’s still the case.” She added that she believed he had been “targeted” by “the system”. In another recording Kosai told newer recruits the “big deep work” involved joining policy working groups to ensure new or revised policies were seen through an anti-imperialist and Greens for Palestine “lens”. Tariq Khawaja, a Greens for Palestine steering group member, directed supporters towards groups responsible for international, defence, health and workers’ rights policy. He said they offered “an opportunity for us to push policy throughout these different working groups”. Those involved argued their organising was how a member-led organisation was intended to work. Speitan called it “power to the people”. Advertisement John Curtice: Greens can take comfort from Holborn, but questions for Reform Greens for Palestine said: “We do not accept the characterisation of this activity as entryism or infiltration. Encouraging people who care about Palestine to become full members of a party whose leadership they can influence through policy groups, motions and internal elections is open political organising, and it is what the party’s own rules provide for.” They added it was “entirely normal, and indeed the ordinary business of any political party, for members to discuss how to participate in its internal processes”. Over 15 excruciating minutes, Zack Polanski left himself in a real state The weekly Greens for Palestine calls took place after the first attempt to pass a “Zionism is racism” motion failed to reach a final vote at the party’s spring conference. Speitan was one of the architects of the motion and had spent months organising support before it finally passed on Sunday. Advertisement In the weeks before the vote, Greens for Palestine used its social media channels to tell non-members to join the party, register for conference and enter its organising WhatsApp group, declaring: “It’s time to transform the Green Party.” A Green Party spokesman said the party was “proud of its member-led democracy, which enables members to participate in developing policy, contribute to working groups and stand for elected positions”. They said: “Members are entitled to organise and advocate for policies they believe in, provided they do so in accordance with our rules and values. Any suggestion of activity which does not align with our values and [rules] is deeply concerning.” Of Ali’s attendance at a meeting, the party said: “Our leadership attend meetings all the time, including with groups from across the Green Party where they often hear robust and open discussions.” Speitan, Kosai and Khawaja were contacted for comment.