Zack Polanski may regret not using his influence when Greens needed him to act

<p>Party’s leader was absent when members voted to adopt policy stating that Zionism was a type of racism</p><p>Shortly after the Greens’ triumph in February’s <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2026/feb/27/green-party-wins-gorton-and-denton-byelection-in-blow-to-keir-starmer">Gorton and Denton byelection</a>, with the party polling above 20%, Zack Polanski seemed as if he might be taking the party into a new era. Now, some members fear he has led them off an electoral cliff.</p><p>It is not Polanski’s direct responsibility that the English and Welsh Greens are saddled with <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2026/oct/04/green-party-votes-adopt-policy-zionism-racism">an official policy stating</a> that Zionism, the movement for a Jewish state, is a type of racism, and that Israel should be replaced by a Palestinian state. The party is a direct democracy, and the members decide.</p> <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2026/oct/05/zack-polanski-may-rue-lack-of-leadership-when-greens-needed-him-to-act">Continue reading...</a>