Politics · United Kingdom · 6 hrs ago
Polanski calls for more leadership control of Green party strategy
Zack Polanski, leader of the Green party in Britain, has called for changes to how the party makes decisions.
His comments follow a party conference vote declaring Zionism a form of racism and supporting a single Palestinian state.
The motion passed by 1,022 votes to 813, although the voters represented about 0.4% of the party’s membership.
Four of the party’s five MPs opposed it, and the European Green party criticised the motion.
Under current rules, members decide policy at conference rather than party leaders.
Polanski says the party’s rapid growth means it should give leaders more responsibility for setting strategy and make member participation broader and its processes more robust.
He agrees with the motion’s central view of Zionism but says political parties should not tell people what to believe and disagrees with parts about the future shape of Israel and Palestine.
He also acknowledged that some members may have felt let down because he did not intervene during the controversy while campaigning in a byelection.
Green party leader Zack Polanski has called for leaders to have more responsibility for setting the party’s strategic direction.
He says the party’s democratic structures must evolve as its membership grows.
His comments follow a divisive conference vote declaring Zionism a form of racism and backing a single Palestinian state.
Polanski agrees with the motion’s substance but says political parties should not tell people what to believe.
The vote drew opposition from four of the party’s five MPs and criticism from the European Green party.
- Who
- Zack Polanski, the Green party leader, called for changes to the party’s internal democracy.
- What
- He said leaders should have more responsibility for setting strategic direction and that party processes should be modernised.
- When
- In an article published on 11 October 2026, after a divisive vote at the party conference.
- Where
- The Green party; the vote took place at the party’s conference.
- Why
- Polanski said the party’s rapid growth required its democratic structures to evolve. The vote had also exposed divisions over how the party makes policy.
Supporters of the conference motion
Opponents of the motion
Zionism
Supporters of the conference motion
The motion’s supporters backed declaring Zionism a form of racism.
Opponents of the motion
Four of the party’s five MPs opposed the motion, and the European Green party criticised it.
Future of Israel and Palestine
Supporters of the conference motion
The motion backed a single Palestinian state.
Opponents of the motion
Polanski said he disagreed with dictating the future shape of a state in Israel and Palestine; the European Green party supports a two-state solution.
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
I put all my energy into the race in Holborn and St Pancras, despite Labour choosing the polling date so close to our conference, because I know that ultimately electoral success is how we drive change. I know, though, that some feel let down by that decision – and I hear that.
the party must not become vulnerable to capture by extremists and racists
Green party conference members voted 1,022 to 813 for a motion declaring Zionism a form of racism and backing a single Palestinian state.
Polanski wrote that the party’s focus on defining Zionism had been misguided and called for changes to its democratic structures.
The Guardian published Polanski’s comments on greater leadership control of the party’s strategic direction.
- Motion vote
- 1,022 in favour; 813 against
- Share of membership represented
- About 0.4%
- MPs opposing the motion
- Four of the Green party’s five MPs
- European Green party position
- Supports a two-state solution
- Polanski’s proposed change
- Give leaders more responsibility for setting the party’s strategic direction
Sources
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