Green Party leader pushes reforms after Zionism motion reflects growing anti-war sentiment
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Green Party leader Zack Polanski has proposed stronger strategic leadership and better member participation after delegates backed a motion calling Zionism racism at the party’s annual conference.
Zack Polanski, leader of the Green Party of England and Wales, said the party’s internal democratic procedures need reform after members approved a motion describing Zionism as racism at the party’s annual conference on Oct. 4. In a piece published in The Guardian, Polanski outlined a proposal to expand the leader’s authority over strategic direction, increase member engagement, and make decision-making processes more robust and accessible.
“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,” Polanski wrote.
He added that unity within the party should be directed toward broader societal change.
Polanski also addressed criticism for missing the conference vote, explaining that his focus was on a by-election in Holborn and St Pancras, where the Greens were defeated by Labour. He acknowledged that some members felt “let down” by his absence but said he would remain as leader.
The motion, which called for Palestinian liberation, the right of return, Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions (BDS), and a full arms embargo against Israel, drew criticism from Jewish organisations, other political parties and several Green MPs.