Green Party Members Approve 'Zionism Is Racism' Motion

Members of the Green Party of England and Wales approved a motion on Sunday at the party's conference in Brighton that designates the party an "anti-Zionist party" and commits it to treating Zionism "as any other form of racism," ITV News reported. The vote was 1,022 to 813, per ITV; the Jewish Chronicle reported a different tally, 1,026 to 648, and an official party count was not available at publication. The motion had first been scheduled for the party's online spring conference in March, but reports from Jewish News, the Jewish Chronicle and the Times of Israel said it was not reached there after technical problems and repeated no-confidence motions against the chair.

The motion also endorses a "single democratic Palestinian State in all of historic Palestine with Jerusalem as its capital," according to ITV. Members rejected an amendment that would have protected members from being disciplined over ties to Zionist Jewish organisations. Novara Media reported that supporters argued the amendment was unnecessary because the motion distinguishes Judaism from Zionism, and that it carries no disciplinary consequences as a policy motion. Co-deputy leader Mothin Ali spoke in favour, Novara reported. When the motion was first tabled, its proposer, Lubna Speitan, said "Zionism is fundamentally incompatible with anti-racist principles, equality and justice," per Novara.

ITV reported that four of the five Green MPs, including Ellie Chowns, publicly opposed the motion. Chowns said it "risks fuelling division," ITV reported. Former leader Caroline Lucas also spoke against it, per Novara. Leader Zack Polanski did not take part in the vote; ITV said he left after his Friday speech to campaign in the Holborn and St Pancras by-election.

The Board of Deputies of British Jews, the Community Security Trust and the Jewish Leadership Council issued a joint statement saying the motion adopts "an overtly antisemitic political platform," ITV reported. Two Movement for Progressive Judaism rabbis called it "antisemitic in its formulation and intention," the Jerusalem Post reported. A Green Party spokesperson said the party remains "an anti-racist party," ITV reported.

Watch next for how Green leaders and MPs respond to the new policy, and for any further reaction from Jewish groups and party members.

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Sources: ITV News, "Greens make 'Zionism is racism' party policy as Polanski skips vote"; Novara Media, "Greens Pass 'Zionism Is Racism' Motion at Party Conference"; The Jewish Chronicle, "Greens pass 'Zionism is racism' motion leaving Jewish members shocked and in tears over 'betrayal'"; The Jewish Chronicle, "Chaos delays Green Party vote on 'Zionism is racism' motion" (March 2026); Jewish News, "Greens postpone vote on motion equating Zionism with racism after online vote system collapses" (March 29, 2026); The Times of Israel, "UK's Green Party fails to pass 'Zionism is Racism' motion after infighting, tech issues" (March 2026).