Polanski Commits to Remaining Green Party Leader Amid Internal Backlash

Zack Polanski has insisted he will continue as leader of the Green Party following his defeat in the Holborn and St Pancras by-election, even as pressure mounts from within his own ranks to step down.

The by-election in the former London constituency of Sir Keir Starmer was a high-profile contest, with Polanski finishing second to Labour candidate Sagal Abdi-Wali. While the Greens fell short of their target, taking 33% of the vote compared to Labour’s 45%, the party did see a significant increase of 22 percentage points compared to the 2024 general election result.

However, the loss has intensified scrutiny on Polanski’s leadership, particularly regarding his absence from a recent party conference vote in Brighton. The motion, which was passed by grassroots members and defines Zionism as a form of racism while supporting a single democratic state across historic Palestine, has drawn sharp criticism. Polanski did not attend the vote, citing his focus on the by-election campaign.

Vivien Lichtenstein, leader of the Jewish Greens, called for Polanski to resign on Friday, describing his avoidance of the debate as a “big mistake.” She criticized his lack of engagement with Jewish members of the party, stating, “I don’t know which Jewish members of the party he’s been working with – it certainly hasn’t been with the Jewish Greens committee.”

Former Green Party leader Caroline Lucas also questioned Polanski’s leadership, arguing he should have been present for the vote on Sunday. Although she initially suggested the motion was “dangerous” and “flawed,” she later softened her stance on Twitter, acknowledging that Polanski had “transformed the party” and expressing hope that he could continue to drive structural changes.

Jonathan Bartley, who co-led the Greens from 2016 to 2021, described the situation as a “failure of leadership” and pointed to growing “toxicity” within the party. While he called on Polanski to apologize, he did not demand his resignation.

In an interview with BBC Breakfast, Polanski reaffirmed his commitment to the role, saying, “Of course I can carry on as leader of the Green Party.” He defended his absence from the conference vote but admitted that if he had participated, he would have supported an amended version of the motion with caveats. He maintained, however, that the core assertion regarding the racist ideology underpinning the displacement of Palestinians was “obvious.”

The controversy has strained relations across the political spectrum. Prime Minister Andy Burnham has urged Polanski to reverse what he termed a “completely wrong” motion, warning against it becoming official policy or entering the next election manifesto. Labour chair Bridget Phillipson drew parallels to her party’s past antisemitism scandal, suggesting the Greens are now facing a “serious problem” with antisemitism.

Inside the party, frustration is evident among long-standing members who view the current dynamic as untenable, with Polanski leading a faction whose policies he publicly disputes. Despite these internal challenges, his strong popularity among the broader membership may shield him from an immediate leadership challenge. The next scheduled leadership ballot is set for the summer of 2027.