Greens approve 'Zionism is racism motion' leaving party facing crisis

Greens approve 'Zionism is racism motion' leaving party facing crisis The motion was passed by the Party's members at their Brighton conference on Sunday. Share Article Share Article Facebook X LinkedIn Reddit Bluesky Email Copy Link Link copied Bookmark Add us as preferred source Comments By Steph Spyro , Deputy political editor and environment editor 15:04, Sun, Oct 4, 2026 Updated: 16:56, Sun, Oct 4, 2026 Jews against Zionism show support for the pro Palestine (Image: Getty) The Green Party has been branded the UK's "first openly antisemitic party” after passing a motion declaring “Zionism is racism”. The motion, which was put forward at the Party's conference in Brighton, passed by 1,022 votes with 813 against on Sunday. The result means that the stance will now become official party policy. Its leader Zack Polanski did not cast a vote. Taking to X, the former Green deputy leader Shahrar Ali called the Greens "the UK's first openly antisemitic party". He added: "Make no mistake this motion removes the right of the state of Israel to exist. It requires it. Article continues below ADVERTISEMENT "I've never been more ashamed and horrified of what the party has become." The motion sets into the Green's policy that Zionism, the movement to develop and protect a Jewish state in Israel, will be “treated as any other form of racism”. A Green Party spokesman said: “This has been a serious and deeply felt debate within our membership. Our members value the ability to bring forward and decide party policy, and conference has now made its decision. Get the latest politics news - straight from our team in Westminster and more I would like to receive emails from the Daily Express featuring our latest products, services, offers, and promotions from across the Reach Plc family . Subscribe Invalid email You agree you are 18 or over. We use your sign-up to provide content in ways you've consented to and to improve our understanding of you. This may include adverts from us and third parties based on our knowledge of you. You can unsubscribe at any time. More Info . Vladimir Putin just made his biggest ever nuclear threat - Andy Burnham needs to wake up Uproar at defence minister's claim about those who fight for Britain “The Green Party is an anti-racist party and has consistently opposed the illegal occupation of both Palestinian and Syrian land, called for an end to arms sales to the Israeli government and spoken out fearlessly about the devastating situation in Gaza and the West Bank. Those positions remain central to our approach. So too does our deeply held commitment to equality, justice and human rights for all and opposition to racism in all its forms.” Article continues below ADVERTISEMENT Before the vote, it had divided Green Party grandees, with former leader Caroline Lucas saying it is "unhelpful". Green MP Ellie Chowns also spoke out on Sunday to warn the motion risked "fuelling division". She had said she would be voting against the motion and urged others to do the same. That echoed criticism of the motion by former party leaders Sian Berry MP, Adrian Ramsay MP and Carla Denyer MP, Article continues below ADVERTISEMENT In a joint statement after the vote, the Green Party's five MPs said they "will continue to work to ensure that the Green Party is an anti-racist party in every way". They added: "We know there is no conflict between supporting the rights of Palestinians and the rights of Jewish people." Deputy leader Rachel Millward said she would vote the motion down, while fellow deputy leader Mothin Ali said he would back it. The motion, proposed by the "Greens 4 Palestine" group of members, describes Zionism as a political ideology that calls for "an ethnonationalist Jewish State… to the exclusion and/or domination of the non-Jewish population". But for many, Zionism refers to Jewish people having a right to self-determination and to settle in their historic homeland of Israel. Delegates voted down an amendment designed to protect Jewish members from being targeted. The motion also called for a single state of Palestine to be established with "equal rights for all", including Jewish people. It features no mention of the state of Israel existing alongside it as part of a two-state solution. Only 1,835 people out of over 200,000 party members voted. The motion came up for a vote after coming top of a member's ballot of what should be prioritised for debate at the conference. Chris Philp MP, Shadow Home Secretary, said: “British Jews should not have to disclaim a belief in Jewish self-determination and the existence of Israel in order to be accepted by a British political party. “One look beneath the surface of Zack Polanski’s Green Party shows a party toxic to its core. It is clear the Green Party cannot bring itself to stand unambiguously against those who hate Jews. “Antisemitism has no place in our society." Green Party anti-semitism Share Article Share Article Facebook X LinkedIn Reddit Bluesky Email Copy Link Link copied Bookmark Add us as preferred source Comments