Polanski Faces Calls to Quit as Green Leader After London By-Election Defeat
Zack Polanski is under pressure to resign as Green Party leader after losing the Holborn and St Pancras by-election, with a poll showing one in three Britons believe he should go and internal criticism over a 'Zionism is racism' motion.
Zack Polanski is fighting to save his leadership of the Green Party after a humiliating by-election defeat in Holborn and St Pancras triggered calls for his resignation from within his own party and beyond. The loss in a seat that had been considered a safe Labour stronghold has intensified scrutiny of Polanski's leadership, particularly his handling of a controversial motion that equated Zionism with racism.
Polanski attempted to present the result as a positive step, noting that the Greens had increased their vote share in the constituency. However, the defeat has not silenced critics. A poll published in the wake of the by-election found that one in three Britons believe he should step down as leader. The survey underscores the scale of the challenge facing Polanski as he seeks to maintain authority over a party that has been gaining ground in recent national polling but now faces questions about its direction under his stewardship.
The controversy surrounding the 'Zionism is racism' motion has become a central flashpoint. The motion, which was debated and passed by party members, has been widely criticised as antisemitic and has alienated moderate voters and some longstanding Green supporters. Polanski's opponents within the party argue that his association with the motion and his inability to distance himself from it contributed to the by-election loss. The result in Holborn and St Pancras, a seat that Labour held comfortably in the last general election, has been interpreted as a sign that the Greens' internal divisions are costing them at the ballot box.
Despite the mounting pressure, Polanski has received a public show of support from Hannah Spencer, the Green MP for Gorton and Denton. Spencer said the party is «here to stay» and offered Polanski her «full support». Her intervention is significant as it signals that not all within the parliamentary party are calling for his removal. Nevertheless, the calls for his resignation from other quarters suggest a deepening rift that could dominate the party's immediate future.
The by-election defeat comes at a delicate moment for the Greens, who have been riding a wave of increased support in national opinion polls, often attributed to disillusionment with the two main parties. The loss in a London seat that the party had hoped to win will be seen as a setback to that momentum. It also raises questions about whether the party's internal policy debates, particularly on sensitive international issues, are distracting from its core domestic agenda.
Polanski's leadership now hangs in the balance. He must decide whether to weather the storm or face a formal challenge. The coming days will be crucial as party members, activists, and elected representatives weigh in on whether he is the right person to lead the Greens into the next general election. For now, the Green leader remains in post, but the pressure is mounting and the path ahead is uncertain.
6
