Green Party Confronts Candidate Controversy Amid Antisemitism Allegations
The Green Party is facing intense criticism after a dossier revealed that multiple local election candidates have made antisemitic comments and promoted conspiracy theories on social media. Party leader Zack Polanski has acknowledged the challenge of vetting candidates, admitting the party may need to distance itself from some individuals as elections approach.
Revelations of Problematic Social Media Posts
A dossier obtained by The Independent shows several prominent Green candidates have posted concerning content. Mark Adderley, standing for Lambeth Council, suggested in February that Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu "works for Jeffrey Epstein," calling the visit to the White House part of Epstein's "blackmail, honey trap operation." He claimed Netanyahu appears in Washington whenever there's tension with Iran or Epstein file developments.
Chandri Chopra, a candidate for Newcastle City Council, argued that the October 7 attack on Israel—which killed 828 civilians including 36 children—was justified. Days after the attack, Chopra posted on Instagram that Palestinians' "legal right to resist is being portrayed as barbarism and unwarranted" by biased media.
Additional Controversial Candidates Identified
Karen Sudan, a candidate in West Sussex, previously resigned from the Labour Party following antisemitism allegations. In August 2018, she accused mainstream media of being "too busy making up and/or exaggerating stories about anti-Semitism in the Labour Party" to address other racism forms.
Aziz Hakimi, standing for Camden Council, shared Facebook posts claiming the Golders Green attack on Jewish ambulances was "a false flag" and promoted conspiracy theories blaming Zionists for the 9/11 attacks.
Political Reactions and Calls for Action
Labour chair Anna Turley condemned the Green Party for standing "crackpot conspiracy theorists peddling rotten antisemitism." She urged Polanski to withdraw support from these candidates, warning that electing Greens could open doors to extremists. Turley emphasized Polanski must make clear these views are abhorrent rather than welcoming such candidates.
Despite expected gains in council seats and devolved parliaments in Wales and Scotland—mostly at Labour's expense—the controversy threatens the party's momentum. Polanski previously expressed hope that Greens would replace Labour, citing by-election victory in Gorton and Denton as evidence of growing support.
Party Leadership Response and Vetting Challenges
At the local election campaign launch in Lewisham, Polanski addressed vetting concerns, telling PoliticsHome: "I recognise we're dealing with an immense amount of people very quickly, and so I won't be surprised if we have the odd candidate where we have to distance [ourselves] from them." He acknowledged the scale of vetting thousands of candidates but insisted the party isn't complacent and is doing due diligence.
Polanski, who is Jewish, used the launch to criticize Israel's actions, calling for sanctions and weapons sales bans. A Green Party spokesperson stated: "The deadline for candidate nominations has just closed and we will be investigating anything brought to our attention that doesn’t fit with Green Party values and views."
The controversy highlights the balancing act facing the Greens as they expand their political presence while maintaining ethical standards among candidates. With elections on May 7 approaching, how the party handles these allegations could significantly impact their electoral prospects and public perception.
