The Board of Deputies of British Jews has officially declared the Green Party of England and Wales to be a racist organization, citing the adoption of an antisemitic platform at its recent conference.
The announcement, made by the largest Jewish representative body in the UK, was a direct response to a controversial motion passed at the Green Party’s conference earlier this month, which defined Zionism as a form of racism.
Phil Rosenberg, president of the Board of Deputies, stated that the vote—passing by an overwhelming margin of 118 votes to one—confirmed that the Greens had become a racist party. He asserted that the Board will treat the party accordingly and called on other political groups to refrain from forming coalitions with the Greens unless they reject and commit to overturning the policy.
A spokesperson for the Green Party rejected the Board’s characterization, insisting that the party does not discriminate against individuals who hold Zionist views. The spokesperson stated that the decision would not hinder the party’s advocacy for Gaza, pushing for stronger sanctions against the Israeli government, or speaking out against the conflict. Israel has repeatedly denied that its actions in Gaza amount to genocide.
The motion, backed by Green Party members, defined Zionism as an ideology supporting an ethnonationalist Jewish state in historic Palestine to the exclusion or domination of the non-Jewish population. It faced widespread condemnation from Jewish groups, opposition political parties, and internal critics, including four Green MPs and two former party leaders.
In response to the Green Party’s motion, the Board of Deputies and the Jewish Leadership Council issued a joint statement affirming that Zionism is an anti-racist ideology aimed at creating a refuge for Jewish people in their ancient homeland after centuries of persecution.
Green Party leader Zack Polanski, who is Jewish, did not participate in the vote on the motion, having left the conference early to campaign in the Holborn and St Pancras by-election. Polanski later indicated that while he would seek amendments, he would not overturn the motion, which will remain party policy until 2028.
