By GB News (Politics) | Created at 2026-10-07 03:46:54 | Updated at 2026-10-07 06:51:41
3 hours ago
Senior Labour figures have ruled out working with the Greens in the future after Zack Polanski's party adopted a policy treating Zionism as a form of racism.
Green Party members at their annual conference in Brighton backed the controversial motion by a vote of 1,022 to 813.
It declares the Greens to be an "anti-Zionist party" and sets out in its policy that Zionism, the movement to develop and protect a Jewish state in Israel, will be "treated as any other form of racism".
The vote was met with an international backlash, with Mr Polanski barred from entering Israel.
Now, senior Labour figures have suggested it was very unlikely their party would cooperate with the Greens in the future.
One Labour minister told The Guardian they could not foresee how the two parties could work together, while a separate government official said Labour should formally rule out a future coalition or other arrangement.
Labour Party Chair Bridget Phillipson described the decision as “fundamentally wrong”.
She said, "The Labour Party has always been clear that criticism of the policies of the Israeli Government is not antisemitic, and the Labour government has condemned Israel’s actions in Gaza and the West Bank.
"[But this] vote at the Green Party Conference crosses a line and should be condemned across the political spectrum."
Zack Polanski was barred from entering Israel after the vote
One source close to the Jewish Labour Movement said Labour should "absolutely" rule out a potential coalition government with the Greens.
They suggested the Green Party policy raised serious questions about whether its treatment of Jewish members could breach equality law.
Meanwhile, pressure is also building within the Liberal Democrats for Sir Ed Davey's party to end its existing arrangements with the Greens.
Some senior Lib Dems, including former minister Lynne Featherstone, are calling on the party to end its coalition with the Greens in Southwark.
The ongoing Green Party came under fire for the vote
Speaking after the vote passed, Mr Polanski said the Green Party will "not accept any exclusion" of people based on religion.
In a statement released late on Monday, he said: "Antisemitism and criticism of the Israeli state are, and must always be, completely distinct – blurring the line between the two is not only wrong but antisemitic, and makes Jewish people less safe.
“It’s our role as a movement for justice to protect both the rights of Palestinians and our Jewish communities here in the UK. As leader, I will not accept any exclusion, or refusal to engage with anyone, because of the religious or communal body they are part of.
“I take seriously my responsibility to make sure everyone feels safe and welcome in our party. Under my leadership, no-one will be made unwelcome because of their background, their faith, or where they worship.”"
Mr Polanski also said he was "proud" of the party’s position on fighting for freedom and justice for Palestinians.
The party was plunged into chaos after it was revealed that the member behind the motion has links to an al-Qaida terrorist serving jail time in the US.
Lubna Speitan, was described in US court documents as a "close friend" of an al Qaida terrorist who plotted to carry out a suicide bomb attack at Heathrow Airport.
Ms Speitan offered to give evidence in defence of Minh Quang Pham, a UK citizen jailed for 40 years in the US for supporting Al Qaida in the Arabian Peninsula (AQAP) in 2011.
Pham admitted three counts of terrorist-related activity based on his support for the group, Scotland Yard said at the time, though he denied that he ever intended to carry out his plot or harm anyone. No attack occurred.
Court documents from 2015 say Ms Speitan was "willing to testify" but that an unspecified medical condition “prevents her from travelling by air”.
However, Pham said she would be willing to testify that he was “a passive individual and never expressed any interest in committing violence or terrorism” and that she would testify “regarding [her] observations of Pham’s cognitive limitations”.
Asked by the Telegraph whether she remained friends with Pham, Ms Speitan reportedly said: "Yes, it’s still the case,” adding that she believed he had been “targeted” by “the system”.
A Green Party spokesperson said: “Lubna Speitan holds no party positions other than being a member. The Green Party takes all allegations of this nature seriously.
"Where members have expressed views that do not fit in with the party’s values, we have internal processes to investigate."
