Polanski Vows to Stay on as Green Party Leader as Criticism Mounts

Green Party leader Zack Polanski has vowed to remain in his position following the party's defeat in the Holborn and St Pancras by-election, as criticism of his leadership grows over an internal dispute surrounding the party's position on Zionism.

Polanski confirmed on Friday that he had no intention of resigning, despite calls from some prominent Green figures for him to step down or take greater responsibility for the controversy.

The leadership dispute follows a difficult week for the party, which has faced questions over a conference motion on Zionism, disagreements among senior members and concerns about the direction of its policies on Israel and Palestine.

Greens finish second in key London by-election

The Greens had hoped to win Holborn and St Pancras, the constituency previously represented by former prime minister Sir Keir Starmer.

However, Labour candidate Sagal Abdi-Wali won the contest with 45% of the vote, while Polanski finished second with 33%.

Although the Greens failed to secure the seat, their vote share increased by 22 percentage points compared with the 2024 general election, indicating a substantial improvement in their performance in the constituency.

Speaking to BBC Breakfast, Polanski said he would “absolutely” remain as leader and insisted he had not questioned that decision.

The result has nevertheless intensified scrutiny of his leadership, with critics arguing that the party needs clearer direction following the recent internal disagreements.

Dispute over Zionism motion

A central source of tension is a motion passed by Green Party members at the party conference, which became official party policy.

The motion defined Zionism as an ideology supporting “an ethnonationalist Jewish state” and backed the creation of a single democratic Palestinian state across historic Palestine, including the territory of modern-day Israel.

The proposal prompted criticism from several senior Green figures, including former party leader Caroline Lucas, who described the motion as deeply flawed and warned that Polanski had failed to demonstrate sufficient leadership by not attending the debate and vote.

Vivien Lichtenstein, leader of the Jewish Greens, also called on Polanski to resign, saying his handling of the issue had been a serious mistake.

Polanski subsequently said he would not have supported the motion in its existing form without amendments, describing it as imperfect.

He has also argued that anti-Zionism and antisemitism are distinct, while maintaining that the party must oppose discrimination and ensure people are not excluded because of their faith.

Questions over Israel and Palestine

The controversy has also brought renewed attention to Polanski's position on Israel's right to exist.

During an interview on BBC Radio 4's Today programme, he was repeatedly asked whether he believed Israel had a right to exist.

Polanski responded by saying that no state had the right to oppress another people or commit apartheid or genocide. He argued that Israelis and Palestinians should have equal rights.

Israel has repeatedly denied allegations of genocide in Gaza. Various international reports and legal proceedings have addressed allegations of serious violations of international law, which remain a subject of intense international debate.

Polanski's responses have not resolved the dispute within his party, with critics arguing that the adopted motion and his own position are difficult to reconcile.

Pressure from within the party

Former Green co-leader Jonathan Bartley has criticised Polanski's handling of the controversy, arguing that it represents a failure of leadership and risks damaging the party's public image.

Other longstanding members have expressed frustration over what they regard as a lack of clear leadership during the debate.

The dispute has exposed divisions among the party's elected representatives and membership. Four of the Green Party's five MPs and one of its two deputy leaders opposed the conference motion, according to the report. Some councillors and the party's deputy leader in Wales have also resigned, while the European Green Party and other figures have distanced themselves from the position.

Despite the criticism, Polanski retains support among sections of the party membership, potentially making an immediate leadership challenge less likely.

Former leader Caroline Lucas later struck a more conciliatory tone, acknowledging that Polanski's leadership had transformed the party and expressing hope that he would help address its internal difficulties.

The Daily Round-Up says

The Green Party now faces the challenge of managing internal disagreements while maintaining public confidence in its leadership and policies.

Polanski's supporters may point to the improved Green vote share in Holborn and St Pancras as evidence that the party continues to make electoral progress. His critics, meanwhile, argue that leadership requires clarity and the ability to address difficult questions involving antisemitism, Zionism and the future of Israel and Palestine.

These issues require careful distinctions. Criticism of Israeli government policy is not automatically antisemitic, but concerns about antisemitism must also be taken seriously, including by political parties committed to equality and opposing discrimination.

Polanski has made clear that he intends to stay. The question now is whether he can rebuild confidence across the party, address the divisions over its policy and convince voters that the Greens can combine electoral growth with clear and consistent leadership.