Green Party row over 'Zionism is racism' motion; Polanski accused over Jewish Greens claim
The Green Party conference adopted a 'Zionism is racism' motion on 4 October. Leader Zack Polanski wants to amend rather than overturn it. Labour has told councillors to end deals with Greens who don't disown it, and Burnham called it antisemitic.
Left 0 · Centre-left 3 · Centre 1 · Centre-right 2 · Right 1
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How each side framed it
Left-leaning outlets
A party in internal dispute: Ramsay urges councillors to reject the motion (Guardian); PoliticsHome reports moves to revise it; Middle East Eye defends it as 'historical fact'.
Centre outlets
Centre-rated outlets headline it: “Green Party Explores Ways To Revisit Zionism Motion Ahead Of Spring Conference” (PoliticsHome).
Right-leaning outlets
Scrutiny and attack: Times reports Polanski 'accused of inventing claim he co-founded Jewish Greens'; Telegraph: police take no action over 'anti-Zionist chants'; Jewish Chronicle: a Scottish Greens co-leader 'struggles to say whether Israel has right to exist'.
Holding the paradox
Agreed facts
The GPEW conference adopted a 'Zionism is racism' motion on 4 October 2026. Polanski won't seek to overturn it but wants to amend it 'at the first available opportunity'. Under party rules it can't be overturned for two years. Labour has ordered councillors to end deals with Greens who don't disown it. Burnham called it 'antisemitic'.
Where claims conflict
Whether the motion is antisemitic (Labour, Jewish groups, Caroline Lucas's criticism) or a legitimate political position (MEE, some members). The Times claim about Polanski is reported here from its headline only, because of the paywall.
The paradox
The right's heavy focus on the motion and the left's focus on internal reform both show a party whose decision-making let a conference vote override its leadership. For Green supporters, the question is the party's democracy as much as Israel.
Sources by lean
Balanced: the same number of articles from the left, the centre and the right (up to 3 each). The bar above still counts every rated outlet we found. Bias and factual ratings come from Media Bias/Fact Check. How we balance · All ratings.
Left 1
Centre 1
Right 1
Showing 1 from each side of 7 rated outlets (L 3 / C 1 / R 3). Capped at 1 because that is all we found on the thinnest side. More coverage
Follow the money
Not yet researched. We haven't yet looked at who gains or loses financially from this story, or who funds the main voices on each side. When we do, we check company filings, the Electoral Commission donations register, lobbying registers, annual reports, InfluenceMap and OpenSecrets, and we apply the same checks to every side. How we follow the money.
Who owns or funds the outlets covering this story (8 outlets)
| Outlet | Lean | Ownership & funding (MBFC) |
|---|---|---|
| Middle East Eye | Centre-left | The Middle East Eye lacks transparency as it does not easily provide ownership information. The website requires that you find ownership information on their Terms and Conditions page, which indicates M.E.E Ltd is the owner. The website also does not indicate that Jamal Bessasso is the owner of M.E.E Ltd. source |
| The Guardian | Centre-left | The Guardian and its companion publication, the Sunday newspaper The Observer, are owned by Guardian Media Group plc (GMG). Scott Trust Limited was created in 1936 to ensure the editorial independence of the publications and owns Guardian Media Group plc (GMG). source |
| The National (Scotland) | Centre-left | The National is operated by Newsquest Media Group Ltd., a UK-based local media publisher. Newsquest is a wholly owned subsidiary of USA TODAY Co., Inc., the media company formerly known as Gannett Company, which also controls AZthe USA TODAY Network of national and local news outlets in the United States and regional titles in the United Kingdom. Revenue is generated from advertising and subscription sales source |
| PoliticsHome | Centre | PoliticsHome.com is owned by Political Holdings Ltd, a media company controlled by Michael Ashcroft, a former Conservative House of Lords peer, and longtime party donor. The website previously belonged to Dods Group plc, a publishing company specializing in UK public policy and politics. source |
| The Jewish Chronicle | Centre-right | In 2020, The Jewish Chronicle was purchased by a consortium of philanthropists led by Sir Robbie Gibb and others, rescuing the paper from financial collapse. However, the full details of its ownership and funding remain unclear, as the financial backers of the consortium have not been fully disclosed. Speculation about involvement from figures such as billionaire Paul E. source |
| The Times | Centre-right | The Times and Sunday Times is owned by News UK (News Corp UK & Ireland Limited), which American News Corp owns. The owner and Executive Chairman of News Corp are Rupert Murdoch. Revenue is derived from advertising and subscription fees. source |
| The Telegraph | Right | Telegraph Media Group (TMG) owns The Telegraph, which is owned by Press Acquisitions Ltd., which in turn is owned by Sir David and Sir Frederick Barclay. In 2004, Twin Brothers Sir David and Sir Frederick Barclay acquired the Daily Telegraph and the Sunday Telegraph from the Canadian media company Hollinger Inc. for £665 million. For a complete list of Board members, see here. source |
| Jewish News | Not rated | No ownership data found |