Zack Polanski has stated his intention to remain as the leader of the Green Party, despite facing significant criticism from within his own ranks following a recent by-election defeat. The comments come after pressure mounted for his resignation, particularly from the Jewish Greens and former party leaders, concerning his handling of a controversial party conference motion.

Polanski, who came second to Labour in the Holborn and St Pancras by-election, has vowed to continue in his leadership role. The Greens had held aspirations of winning the seat, which was previously held by former Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer, following a previous by-election success. However, Labour candidate Sagal Abdi-Wali secured the victory with 45% of the vote, while Polanski received 33%, though the Green vote share saw a substantial increase of 22 percentage points compared to the 2024 general election.

Vivien Lichtenstein, the leader of the Jewish Greens, publicly called for Polanski's resignation. Lichtenstein cited Polanski's decision to avoid a vote on a party conference motion that declared Zionism a form of racism as a "big mistake." She indicated that Polanski had not been engaging with the Jewish Greens committee.

These sentiments were echoed by other prominent figures within the party. Former Green Party leader Caroline Lucas suggested that Polanski should have been present for the vote on the motion. Adrian Ramsay, a Green MP and former co-leader, also expressed reservations, stating that Polanski "did not show leadership I would have been looking for," and indicated he was working to reverse the motion.

Polanski defended his absence from the vote, explaining that he was actively campaigning in the North London constituency at the time. When questioned about resigning, he asserted his commitment to continuing as leader, framing the election loss and the motion controversy as part of a larger movement. He acknowledged that he would not have voted for the "imperfect" motion without amendments, but affirmed that the "displacement and genocide of the Palestinian people is clearly underpinned by a racist ideology."

The controversial motion, passed by rank-and-file members, defined Zionism as an ideology supporting an ethnonationalist Jewish state and advocated for a single democratic Palestinian state across all of historic Palestine. This definition includes modern-day Israel, drawing significant backlash.

Polanski's position has been further scrutinized following his interviews on BBC Radio 4's Today programme, where he was repeatedly questioned about Israel's right to exist and his stance on the Zionism motion. Despite these challenges, Polanski has remained resolute in his decision to stay on as Green Party leader, emphasizing the broader scope of the party's movement beyond individual electoral outcomes or internal policy debates.

The Green Party now faces the challenge of navigating internal divisions and public perception stemming from the by-election result and the divisive motion, while Polanski seeks to maintain his leadership and steer the party forward.