Politics · United Kingdom · 1 hr ago
UK Green Party leader calls for changes to party decision-making
Zack Polanski, leader of the UK Green Party, has called for changes to how the party makes decisions.
His proposal came after party members passed a motion at their annual conference on October 4 declaring that Zionism is racism.
The motion also called for Palestinian liberation, the right of return, boycotts and an arms embargo against Israel.
Jewish groups, other parties and most Green Party MPs criticised it.
Polanski said party democracy should involve members more widely while giving leaders more responsibility for setting strategy.
He said he missed the vote because he was campaigning in a by-election in Holborn and St Pancras, where Labour won the parliamentary seat.
Polanski acknowledged that some party members felt let down and said he would remain leader.
Green Party leader Zack Polanski has called for changes to the party’s decision-making, including giving leaders more responsibility for setting its strategic direction.
He made the proposal in an article published in The Guardian on Sunday.
The call followed a divisive vote at the party’s annual conference on October 4 declaring that Zionism is racism.
Polanski said his priority during the vote was campaigning in a by-election in Holborn and St Pancras.
Labour won that parliamentary seat, which had been vacated by former leader Keir Starmer.
- Who
- Zack Polanski, leader of the United Kingdom’s Green Party.
- What
- He called for changes to the party’s decision-making, including greater leadership responsibility for setting its strategic direction.
- When
- Sunday, in an article published after the party’s October 4 conference vote.
- Where
- The United Kingdom; the party vote took place at its annual conference.
- Why
- Polanski said the party’s democracy should evolve to encourage wider member engagement and make processes robust and accessible.
This story does not have two clearly opposing sides.
Our party democracy must now evolve to meet that – creating wider engagement for members, giving leaders more responsibility to set the party’s strategic direction, and making our processes as robust and accessible as possible
Above all, that unity must be deployed in the service of changing this country for the better
I have been asked why I was not present for the vote. The answer is that my priority was fighting a hugely consequential by-election for our party
Green Party members passed a motion declaring that Zionism is racism at the party’s annual conference.
Labour won the parliamentary seat in Holborn and St Pancras, defeating a strong Green Party challenge.
Polanski called for changes to the party’s democratic mechanisms in an article published in The Guardian.
- Party leader
- Zack Polanski
- Party
- United Kingdom’s Green Party
- Conference vote
- October 4; members passed a motion declaring that Zionism is racism
- By-election seat
- Holborn and St Pancras
- Winner
- Labour
Sources
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