Green Party Conference Passes Zionism Motion by 1,022 Votes to 813
Green Party members in England and Wales approved a motion defining Zionism as an ethnonationalist ideology during their autumn conference in Brighton, bbc.co.uk reported. The vote passed with 1,022 votes in favour and 813 against on Sunday. Proposed by British-Palestinian artist Lubna Speitan, the policy also called for a single democratic Palestinian state across historic Palestine.
Under party rules, member-approved motions become official policy, though they do not automatically feature in general election manifestos. Four out of five Green MPs opposed the resolution. Adrian Ramsay, a former party leader and Green MP for Waveney Valley, called the motion an unhelpful distraction and wrong in principle, telling BBC Radio 5 Live that the party has always supported the right to self-determination for all peoples.
Labour Party Figures Rule Out Electoral Cooperation
Senior Labour Party figures stated that future cooperation with the Greens is very unlikely following the conference vote, The Guardian reported. Bridget Phillipson, the Labour chair, described the move as shameful and argued it highlighted why her party needed to tackle antisemitism decisively. A source linked to the Jewish Labour Movement said Labour should completely rule out governing alongside the Greens.
The policy vote coincides with the Holborn and St Pancras byelection where Green leader Zack Polanski is seeking to win the seat previously held by Keir Starmer. Polanski did not take part in the conference vote on Sunday, having left Brighton earlier after his speech to campaign in the contest. Polanski stated that antisemitism and criticism of the Israeli state must always remain distinct.
Conservative Leader Kemi Badenoch Condemns Conference Vote
Conservative leader Kemi Badenoch told ITV News Political Editor Robert Peston that she was appalled and embarrassed by the decision, itv.com reported. Badenoch stated during her interview that the Green Party is full of people holding antisemitic views who should be called out. In response, a Green Party spokesperson argued that description accurately applied to the Conservative Party.
Meanwhile, Scottish Conservative figures compared the Scottish Green Party to historical extremist movements following remarks from Scottish Greens co-leader Ross Greer. Greer told BBC Radio Scotland that he considered Zionism to be racism and that his party agreed with elements of the Brighton motion. Former Scottish Tory leader Jackson Carlaw wrote on social media that the Greens had become a despising echo of Oswald Mosley’s blackshirts, as reported by The National Scot.
Lubna Speitan 2015 Letter Emerges During Party Investigation
The Green Party confirmed an internal investigation is underway regarding Lubna Speitan after the Jewish Chronicle revealed a 2015 letter written by her, bbc.co.uk reported. US court documents listed Speitan as a close friend who could speak to Pham’s mental state.
A Green Party spokesperson stated that Speitan holds no formal party positions other than general membership and that internal processes apply when members express views outside party values. The court documents contain no suggestion that Speitan knew of Pham’s criminal activities during their acquaintance.
Frequently Asked Questions About the Green Party Zionism Policy
What does the newly adopted Green Party policy state?
The policy defines Zionism as an ideology supporting an ethnonationalist Jewish state and calls for a single democratic Palestinian state across all of historic Palestine, according to bbc.co.uk.
How did Green Party MPs react to the conference vote?
Four out of five Green Party MPs opposed the motion, with MP Adrian Ramsay telling BBC Radio 5 Live that the policy is wrong in principle and an unhelpful distraction.
What action is the Green Party taking regarding Lubna Speitan?
The Green Party confirmed that an internal investigation is underway following the emergence of a 2015 character reference letter Speitan wrote for Minh Quang Pham, bbc.co.uk reported.
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