The Green Party is grappling with accusations of antisemitism within its ranks as it approaches historic electoral gains. With membership quadrupling since Zack Polanski became leader in September, the party has seen increased scrutiny of comments by candidates and activists. Two Green candidates standing for Lambeth council were arrested this week for allegedly stirring up racial hatred online with antisemitic posts, while another candidate, Tina Ion in Newcastle, faced accusations over a call for 'every single Zionist' to be killed.
Polanski himself became embroiled in a public dispute with the Metropolitan Police commissioner after sharing an online post questioning the level of force used by officers who tackled a suspect in the stabbing of two Jewish men in Golders Green. He later apologised, acknowledging his responsibility to 'lower the temperature at a time of such tension'.
The controversy reflects a longstanding debate about the definition of Zionism, which supporters see as a struggle for a Jewish homeland and critics view as a colonial project. Since the 7 October 2023 Hamas attack on Israel and Israel's subsequent assault on Gaza, arguments within the Greens have played out publicly and privately, mirroring wider social tensions over how Jewish people in the UK have experienced the fallout.
Longtime member Elise Benjamin expressed bittersweet feelings about the party's success, noting a 'small but noisy core' focused on one issue. The party's membership in England and Wales has exceeded 220,000, driven partly by former Labour supporters under Jeremy Corbyn. Critics draw parallels to Labour's antisemitism crisis, while some members argue the problem has been exaggerated for political gain.
