Green Party leader Zack Polanski stated on Sunday, October 18, 2026, that he will not attempt to overturn a party motion characterizing Zionism as racism. Polanski said that under party rules, once a policy is voted on, it remains in place for two years, meaning it cannot be amended until 2028.
The decision follows a recent party conference in Brighton where members voted on the motion. The proposal passed with approximately 1,000 members voting in favor and 800 voting against. Polanski stated on Friday, October 16, 2026, that he would have only supported the motion if it had been amended, and noted that attempts to introduce changes were rejected by members prior to the final vote.
Internal criticism has followed the vote, with Vivien Lichtenstein, leader of the Jewish Greens, calling for Polanski’s resignation. Former leader Caroline Lucas and other senior party figures have also expressed concern regarding his leadership. In response to questions about changing party rules to address the policy sooner, Polanski stated he respects the "democratic will" of the members and said he is not an "autocrat."
The scale of public reaction is reflected in a new Ipsos survey from October 2026, which reported that 52% of the public holds an unfavorable view of Polanski, a six-percentage-point increase since September 2026. With only 16% expressing a positive view, his net approval rating stands at minus 36. This represents the lowest popularity rating of any national leader currently tracked in the survey.
The concrete change for Green Party members and candidates is that they will be bound by this policy language through at least the next two years. Polanski indicated that at the first available opportunity in 2028, he intends to seek amendments that move the party toward a position where Israelis and Palestinians decide their own future. The next steps involve the party operating under this policy until the 2028 conference window opens.