The Green Party of England and Wales is facing an escalating political and legal crisis following the passage of a highly controversial policy motion at its autumn conference in Brighton. The fallout has now extended far beyond internal party debates, with nine Labour Members of Parliament formally referring the party to Sussex Police to investigate potential criminal offenses, while a separate group of MPs has urged the national equality watchdog to intervene.
The nine Labour MPs have contacted Sussex Police, requesting that the force assess whether "possible antisemitic offences" committed during or in connection with the Brighton conference warrant a formal criminal investigation. Both Sussex Police and the Green Party have been contacted for comment regarding the referral, which represents a dramatic escalation in the public and political backlash to the policy.
The dispute centers on a policy motion put forward by a group of grassroots activists at the Green Party’s annual conference. The motion, which has sparked intense debate both within and outside the party, was ultimately endorsed by conference attendees in a vote of 1,022 in favor to 813 against. The approved text contains highly contentious language regarding the ideology of Zionism, stating: "The real, material, manifestation of Zionism has been the historic and ongoing dehumanisation, displacement, dispossession, disenfranchisement and destruction of Palestinians."
The passage of this motion has laid bare deep and widening divisions within the Green Party, which has recently experienced a significant surge in its membership base. Under the leadership of Zack Polanski, the party has grown rapidly, but this expansion has brought to the surface a fundamental friction between the activist wing of the party and its newly enlarged parliamentary faction. At the July general election, the Greens achieved a historic breakthrough by electing five MPs to the House of Commons. However, the disconnect between these elected representatives and the conference voting body was made clear on Sunday, as four of the party’s five MPs voted against the motion, while Polanski himself did not take part in the vote.
The international and domestic repercussions of the vote were swift. The Israeli foreign ministry reacted to the motion’s passage by imposing a travel ban on Polanski, preventing the Green Party leader from entering the country. Domestically, various Jewish communal organizations have strongly condemned the motion, with some describing the policy and the rhetoric surrounding it as a direct "attack on the Jewish community."
Breaking his silence after initially declining requests for interviews on Monday, Polanski released a detailed and lengthy statement addressing the growing crisis. Polanski, who is himself Jewish, sought to reassure both his party members and the wider public of his commitment to inclusivity. He stated that he takes seriously his responsibility to make sure everyone feels safe and welcome in the party, addressing the anxieties felt by Jewish members and supporters.
In his statement, Polanski emphasized that his leadership would not tolerate discrimination or sectarianism. He stated that as leader, he will not accept any exclusion, or refusal to engage with anyone, because of the religious or communal body they are part of. He went on to assert that the Green Party and its leadership remain anchored in deeply held values of compassion, fairness, and equality for all.
