UK Green Party in Crisis: 18,000 Members Leave Following Controversial Anti-Zionism Resolution

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The Green Party of England and Wales is facing mounting internal divisions after a controversial resolution on Zionism triggered political backlash, resignations and a significant decline in membership. The dispute has intensified pressure on party leader Zack Polanski as the movement seeks to maintain its political momentum and strengthen its position on the national stage.

According to figures reported by British media, the party has lost approximately 18,000 members since May, with its membership falling from around 230,000 to 212,000. Although the decline coincides with the controversy surrounding the party's position on Israel, the available figures do not establish that the resolution was the sole cause of the departures.

Controversial Resolution Deepens Political Divisions

The dispute escalated during the party's annual conference in Brighton on October 4, when delegates approved a motion describing Zionism as a form of racism. The proposal passed with 1,022 votes in favour and 813 against.

The resolution also called for the establishment of a single democratic Palestinian state across the entirety of historic Palestine, with equal rights for all, replacing the State of Israel.

The decision exposed substantial differences within the party, particularly over how its position on Palestinian rights should be articulated and the implications of the resolution for Jewish members and the wider political movement.

Elected Representatives Challenge Party Leadership

Opposition to the motion extended into the party's parliamentary ranks. Four of its five Green MPs reportedly voted against the resolution, expressing concerns about its implications, particularly for Jewish members of the organisation.

Several local representatives also decided to leave the party. Among them was Drew Creek, a senior Green representative in Cornwall, who criticised the adopted position and considered it a departure from acceptable political boundaries.

Zack Polanski, who is Jewish, did not participate in the vote. Following the controversy, he reiterated his opposition to antisemitism while maintaining his support for Palestinian rights.

The situation has placed the party's leadership under pressure to address competing concerns within its membership without undermining its political positions.

International Reactions Add to the Pressure

The controversy has attracted attention beyond the United Kingdom. Israel strongly criticised the resolution, arguing that its position undermines the Jewish people's right to self-determination. Several European Green political figures and organisations have also voiced disagreement with the motion.

The debate has consequently become a wider test of how environmental and progressive political movements address the Israeli-Palestinian conflict while confronting questions of antisemitism, political identity and equal rights.

A Critical Test for the Green Party

For the Green Party of England and Wales, the immediate challenge is to contain the internal dispute and prevent further departures from weakening its organisational structure.

The membership decline, disagreements among elected representatives and criticism from international political partners have created a difficult environment for Zack Polanski's leadership.

As the party seeks to expand its electoral influence, its ability to reconcile internal differences and maintain a coherent political message could prove central to its future development.