Zack Polanski booed at hustings after telling Jews Zionism is racism

Green Party leader Zack Polanski faced intense backlash and was booed at a hustings event when he declared that Zionism is racism in practice and described Israel's actions in Gaza as a genocide. The remarks come as the campaign intensifies in the Holborn and St Pancras by-election, which is shaping up as a crucial test of political momentum.

According to Dailymail reporting, Mr Polanski told the event organized by the London Jewish Forum and the Board of Deputies of British Jews that he identifies as an anti-Zionist. The Green leader, who is Jewish, argued that dismissing criticism of the military response following the October 7 terror attacks as anti-Semitic ultimately makes Jewish people less safe. When asked directly if he believed Zionism was a form of racism, he stated that definitions vary, but added via Dailymail: If you're defining Zionism as a displacement genocide, which is how, in practice, Zionism has become, then that is racism.

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The remarks drew immediate criticism from rival candidates and community figures. Conservative candidate Ewan Cameron warned against using explosive words such as apartheid and genocide without proper context regarding Hamas and the history of the region, cautioning that polarized rhetoric can perpetuate anti-Semitic behavior. Labour peer Baroness Hodge similarly criticized the remarks, stating on Times Radio that Mr Polanski requires a quick lesson in Zionism according to Dailymail. In contrast, the audience applauded Reform UK candidate Peter Newman for arguing that the UK fails to take anti-Semitism seriously and suffers from an over-focus on events in Israel.

The controversy coincides with a divisive push by hardline pro-Palestinian elements within the Green Party to pass a conference motion titled Zionism is Racism. Authored by Lubna Speitan, the proposal calls for a single democratic state across historic Palestine with Jerusalem as its capital, broad boycotts and sanctions against Israel modeled after apartheid-era South Africa, and for Hamas to avoid terrorist designation. Mr Polanski previously characterized the motion as a distraction that will not help according to Dailymail.

Away from the hustings, the electoral contest itself is drawing intense national scrutiny. The Holborn and St Pancras by-election follows the departure of former Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer. Mr Polanski has acknowledged that he is the underdog in a constituency that Labour has held safely for decades, yet he insists the Greens can pull off one of the biggest upsets in British political history reported by the London Evening Standard. The party's campaign has heavily leaned into local concerns, including rising housing costs, rent controls, and fierce opposition to the government's anticipated greenlighting of the Jackdaw North Sea gasfield noted by The Guardian.

Labour is countering the Green surge by putting forward Camden council leader Sagal Abdi-Wali, who arrived in Britain as a child refugee and has emphasized her deep community roots. While national polling suggests the Greens face an uphill battle in the capital according to the London Evening Standard, Mr Polanski's team points to past surprise victories in Gorton and Denton and sweeping local council gains in May as proof of changing political tides.

The political pressure extends to broader governance and environmental debates. Mr Polanski told The Guardian that voters are incensed by Prime Minister Andy Burnham's expected approval of new North Sea drilling, positioning the Green campaign as a direct vehicle for climate dissent. He also addressed meteorological warnings surrounding severe El Niño weather patterns, confirming he is considering personal food and water stockpiling after environment secretary Angela Eagle advised preparations for potential outages.

With the political landscape shifting, attention now turns to the impending ballot. Voters will head to the polls on October 8, 2026, to decide the outcome of the high-profile by-election reported by the BBC, while Green delegates convene for their annual conference.