Zack Polanski, the Green Party leader standing as a candidate in the Holborn and St Pancras byelection scheduled for 8 October 2026, declared himself an anti-Zionist at a Jewish community hustings and faced heckling from the audience. He characterised Zionism—the movement for a Jewish state—as a form of racism because it involved the displacement and genocide of Palestinians, remarks that drew boos from attendees.
Polanski, who is Jewish himself, stated his position clearly during the event.
I'm an anti-Zionist. I think countries have always been ideas and I think things change over time,he said. He argued that criticising the Israeli government and the occupation of Palestinian land should not be conflated with antisemitism.
We need to come together to recognise that when we call that antisemitic, we are making ourselves as Jewish people less safe,he added.
The hustings took place as the Green Party prepares for its autumn conference, where members are scheduled to vote on a motion to establish Zionism as a form of racism in official party policy. The motion, titled "Zionism is Racism", was lodged with substantial supporter backing ahead of the conference.
What concerns do party officials have about the motion?
Senior figures within the Green Party have expressed anxiety that passage of the motion could alienate Jewish supporters and damage the party's standing within the Jewish community. A Green Party official acknowledged the tension, noting that many activists loyal to the party's leadership may not attend the autumn conference because it takes place a week before the Holborn and St Pancras byelection, potentially leaving more scope for others to advance the motion.
The risk is that if it passes as it is we are alienating ourselves from the Jewish community in the UK, a lot of whom are not big fans of the current Israeli government,a Green source said. The party also faces concerns about internal divisions, with some Green activists in leaked WhatsApp conversations warning that Polanski was "struggling to overcome Zionist indoctrination".
What amendments are being proposed?
Polanski is reportedly backing two amendments designed to moderate the motion's language. According to reporting on the amendments selected for a vote at the Green Party conference, the proposed changes would push back against the call for a single Palestinian state with Jerusalem as its capital and introduce safeguards for Jewish members who identify as Zionist.
The original motion calls for "a single democratic Palestinian state in all of historic Palestine with Jerusalem as its capital, equal rights for all, and the right of return for Palestinians and their descendants", and asserts that the Palestinian people possess the full right to "resistance and liberation from Israeli occupation, domination and subjugation" within international law. If passed in its current form, Zionism "will be treated as any other form of racism" by the party.
Who is Labour's candidate in the byelection?
Labour has selected Sagal Abdi-Wali, the leader of Camden Council, as its candidate to defend the seat vacated when former Prime Minister Keir Starmer resigned from the House of Commons on 1 September 2026. Abdi-Wali has led Camden Council since May and is emphasising her local roots and commitment to the constituency.
The 42-year-old candidate has made clear she is focused entirely on the immediate campaign and her potential role as a local MP, not on higher political ambitions.
No, no, no, no, that's not at all, in any way, what I'm trying to do,she said when asked whether she aspires to follow Starmer's path to the top of her party.
I'm literally trying to get through the next few weeks and trying to be the member of parliament for this constituency, and that's all I care about.
Abdi-Wali has maintained consistent messaging throughout her campaign, emphasising her long record of service to the area.
All I've done, all my life, is be a committed champion for people here,she explained.
Whether it's volunteering as a teenager or being a councillor, and all the work I did in between, that's all I've ever done. All I want to be is someone who will be visible and local and committed every single day.This message appears repeatedly in her campaign materials and is highlighted by every Labour activist canvassing in the constituency, serving as an implicit contrast with her high-profile opponent.
What was the atmosphere at the hustings?
The event revealed deep divisions within the constituency on the Israel-Palestine question. Most attendees appeared to have made up their minds before arriving, with one question from the floor posed by a Labour councillor. The hustings functioned largely as a platform for audience members to express their strong disagreement with Polanski's views on Israel and Palestine and to convey their sense of being offended by his positions.
However, the fact that coverage of the event has been shared by both Polanski's opponents and supporters suggests the Green leader may view the uncomfortable evening as having achieved some strategic purpose. The floor of the Green Party conference next month is likely to present a different kind of challenge, where the motion will be debated and voted upon by party members.
What other political developments are unfolding?
In other UK political news, Foreign Secretary Ed Miliband met with Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly in New York. During the face-to-face meeting, Miliband conveyed that Britain will "not tolerate intimidation, threats or hostile activity on UK soil". The pair discussed the war in the Middle East, the Strait of Hormuz crisis, and the UK's "unwavering resolve to combat threats from Iranian-linked groups in UK soil", according to a Foreign Office readout.
Advisers in Number 10 are reportedly pushing for Prime Minister Andy Burnham to call an early election as a strategy to maintain Labour in power. Senior members of Burnham's team believe that calling an election in spring would provide the party with the best chance of securing another parliamentary majority.
The government has also announced plans to brief defence companies and critical infrastructure providers on security threats posed by Russia and its proxies, including cyber attacks, sabotage and disinformation campaigns targeting organisations vital to Ukraine's defence. Security Minister Dan Jarvis and Armed Forces Minister Louise Sandher-Jones will chair closed-door meetings with industry leaders in the coming weeks to discuss these threats.
Key Facts
- The Holborn and St Pancras byelection is scheduled for 8 October 2026, with Polanski's Green Party selection decided by Camden Green Party members after online hustings, defeating local councillor Hamza Chowdhury
- The Green Party's autumn conference vote on the "Zionism is Racism" motion is imminent, with amendments proposed to moderate the motion's language
- Labour's candidate Sagal Abdi-Wali is emphasising her local commitment and long record of service to the constituency as her campaign message
- The byelection was triggered by Keir Starmer's resignation from the House of Commons on 1 September 2026
- Polanski is backing amendments that would add safeguards for Jewish party members and modify language regarding Palestinian statehood
