Board of Deputies says Green Party is a racist organisation

By LineZotpaper AI staff

Published26 October 2026

Read Time2 min

The Board of Deputies of British Jews has declared the Green Party of England and Wales a racist organisation, responding to the party's recent conference vote labelling Zionism as racism. The largest Jewish representative body in the UK said the Greens had adopted an antisemitic platform.

The Board of Deputies of British Jews has formally declared the Green Party of England and Wales a racist organisation, citing a motion passed at the Green Party's conference earlier this month that describes Zionism as a racist ideology.

Board of Deputies president Phil Rosenberg said the vote, which passed 118 to one, declared that the Greens had 'by adopting an antisemitic platform, become a racist party.' He added: 'No political party has the right to tell Jews that a central part of our identity, rooted in thousands of years of history, faith and peoplehood, is racist. The Green Party's policy brands much of our community, including our synagogues and communal organisations, with that slur. It gives prejudice against Jews a political licence.'

A spokesman for the Green Party rejected the characterisation, insisting the party does not discriminate against people who hold Zionist views. 'This will not stop us from speaking out against the genocide in Gaza and pushing for stronger sanctions against the Israeli government and its leaders,' the spokesman said. Israel has repeatedly denied its actions in Gaza amount to genocide.

The Board of Deputies' motion urged other parties not to form coalition deals with the Greens unless local Green groups reject the policy. Labour has already issued an ultimatum to local Green councils it is in coalition with, telling them to disown the motion or lose Labour's support.

Green Party leader Zack Polanski, who is Jewish, did not vote on the motion as he left the conference early to campaign in a by-election. He has since told the BBC that he would like to make amendments but will not overturn the motion, which will remain party policy until 2028.

RSS

The Daily Edition

The front page in your inbox each weekday morning: the lead, the picks, and why each one earned its place.

Analysis

Why This Matters

The Board of Deputies' declaration could affect coalition deals between the Greens and other parties at local and national level, potentially isolating the Greens politically.
It escalates a long-running debate over where criticism of Israel crosses into antisemitism, with implications for free speech and Jewish communal relations in the UK.
The ruling may deepen internal divisions within the Green Party, where four MPs and two former leaders have already criticised the motion.

Background

The Board of Deputies of British Jews is the largest Jewish communal organisation in the UK. Its declaration follows the Green Party's conference vote earlier this month that approved a motion stating Zionism is an ideology supporting 'an ethnonationalist Jewish state in historic Palestine to the exclusion and/ or domination of the non-Jewish population.' Jewish groups, including the Board and the Jewish Leadership Council, condemned the motion at the time. Green leader Zack Polanski has said he would not overturn the policy but would seek amendments.

Key Perspectives

Board of Deputies president Phil Rosenberg: 'By adopting an antisemitic platform, the Green Party of England and Wales has become a racist party. We will treat it accordingly.' He called on the Green leadership to reverse the policy and confront antisemitism.

Green Party spokesman: The party rejects the Board's characterisation and insisted it does not discriminate against people with Zionist views. The decision 'will not stop us from speaking out against the genocide in Gaza and pushing for stronger sanctions against the Israeli government and its leaders.'

Green Party leader Zack Polanski: He did not vote on the motion and has said he would like to make amendments but will not overturn it, which would remain party policy until 2028.

What to Watch

Whether Labour and other parties follow the Board's call to break coalition agreements with the Greens.
Internal Green Party reactions, including potential moves by moderate MPs or members to challenge the motion at the next conference.
The impact on Polanski's leadership, already described as facing his greatest crisis since taking office.

Sources

Board of Deputies of British Jews declares Greens to be racist party · BBC News

Checked

12 claims in this story checked against 1 source: 9 supported.

Show each claim

SupportedThe Board of Deputies says the Green Party is a racist organisation.BBC News: “The Green Party of England and Wales has been declared a racist organisation by the Board of Deputies of British Jews.”
SupportedThe Board of Deputies is the largest Jewish representative body in the UK.BBC News: “The Jewish body, which is the largest in the UK”
SupportedThe Board was responding to a Green Party conference motion describing Zionism as racism.BBC News: “was responding to the "Zionism is racism" policy motion passed at the Green Party's conference earlier this month.”
SupportedThe Board's vote declaring the Greens racist passed 118 to one.BBC News: “a vote passed by 118 votes to one to declare that the Greens had”
SupportedRosenberg said the Greens had “by adopting an antisemitic platform, become a racist party.”BBC News: “to declare that the Greens had, "by adopting an antisemitic platform, become a racist party".”
SupportedRosenberg said no political party has the right to call a central part of Jewish identity racist, and that the Green policy brands Jewish communal organisations with that slur.BBC News: “No political party has the right to tell Jews that a central part of our identity, rooted in thousands of years of history, faith and peoplehood, is racist.”
SupportedA Green Party spokesman rejected the Board's characterisation and said the party does not discriminate against people who hold Zionist views.BBC News: “A spokesman for the Greens insisted the party does not discriminate against people who hold Zionist views and said it rejected the Board of Deputies' "characterisation of this motion and our party".”
SupportedThe Green spokesman said the Board's decision would not stop the party speaking out against genocide in Gaza and pushing for stronger sanctions against Israel's government and leaders.BBC News: “They added the decision "will not stop us from speaking out against the genocide in Gaza and pushing for stronger sanctions against the Israeli government and its leaders".”
Partly supportedThe Board's motion urged other parties not to make deals with the Greens unless local Green groups reject the policy.BBC News: “The motion passed by the Board of Deputies urged other parties not to do deals with the Greens unless they rejected the policy. Forming coalition deals with Greens at local or national level would be "failing to take antisemitism with the requisite seriousness", it said, unless the party's local leadership have rejected the policy and committed to overturn it.”
Partly supportedLabour issued an ultimatum to local Green councils in coalition with it, telling them to disown the motion or lose Labour's support.BBC News: “Labour has already issued an ultimatum to local Green groups it is currently in coalition with, telling them to disown the motion or lose the party's support.”
SupportedZack Polanski did not vote on the motion because he left the conference early to campaign in a by-election.BBC News: “did not take part in the vote on the motion as he left the conference early to campaign in the Holborn and St Pancras by-election which was held days later.”
Partly supportedPolanski will not overturn the motion, which will remain party policy until 2028.BBC News: “while he would like to make amendments, he would not overturn the motion , which would be party policy until 2028.”