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UK politicsGreens

Green Party tensions: Polanski 'too busy' to back Caroline Lucas against an activist plot, as the Zionism row rumbles on

The Green Party of England and Wales remains split over its 'Zionism is racism' motion, with members demanding an apology from the leadership and critics citing activists' conduct. Sussex Police will take no further action over conference chants.

L 43% · C 14% · R 43% · 7 outlets

Left 0 · Centre-left 3 · Centre 1 · Centre-right 2 · Right 1

Sources by leanFollow the moneyMore coverage

How each side framed it

Left-leaning outlets

Internal democracy: the Independent reports members demanding the leadership apologise for 'treating members as political suspects', the New Statesman writes of Polanski's 'thwarted promise', and the Herald reports an Edinburgh Tory councillor's motion to condemn the policy.

Centre outlets

Centre-rated outlets headline it: “The battle inside the Green Party” (Sky News).

Right-leaning outlets

Extremism and antisemitism: 'Green activist who praised Ayatollah helped pass anti-Zionism motion' (Times), 'Polanski too busy to support former Green leader facing activist plot' (Telegraph),, and the JC on police dropping the conference-chant complaint.

Holding the paradox

Agreed facts

The Green Party of England and Wales remains divided over its conference motion declaring 'Zionism is racism'. Former leader Caroline Lucas has criticised the motion, and Zack Polanski said he would not have voted for it. Sussex Police said it would take no further action over chants at the conference, finding no evidence of criminality.

Where claims conflict

Critics say the motion and chants made Jewish people feel unwelcome; supporters say it is about a political ideology, not Jews. Members on the left say the leadership has 'badly misjudged the membership'. Jewish News (unrated) reports the deputy leader joined a controversial chant.

The paradox

A party built on inclusion is fighting over who feels excluded. Both sides, those who back the motion and those against it, say they are defending the vulnerable.

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 2

Centre 2

Right 2

Showing 2 from each side of 7 rated outlets (L 3 / C 1 / R 3). Capped at 2 because that is all we found on the thinnest side. 1 found by a targeted top-up search (marked; not counted in the split). 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)
OutletLeanOwnership & funding (MBFC)
New StatesmanCentre-leftNew Statesman is owned by GlobalData PLC, a data analytics and media company established in 1999 and listed on the London Stock Exchange since 2000. It was previously called Progressive Digital Media and, before that, the TMN Group. Advertising and subscription fees generate revenue. source
The Herald (Scotland)Centre-leftThe Glasgow Herald is published by Herald & Times Group, which is owned by Newsquest Media Group Ltd. Newsquest is the second-largest publisher in the United Kingdom, publishing 205 brands including 165 newspapers. Further, Newsquest is owned by US-based Gannett which publishes USA Today. source
The IndependentCentre-leftThe Independent is owned by Independent Print Limited, a company owned by the Lebedev family (Alexander Lebedev and his son Evgeny Lebedev). In 2017, Saudi Businessman Sultan Muhammad Abuljadayel bought a 30% stake in the Independent online newspaper. Advertising and subscription generate revenue for the paper..push({}); source
Sky NewsCentreSky News is owned by Comcast as of November 2018 and is funded through advertising. Rupert Murdoch is no longer affiliated with Sky News UK; however, Newscorp still has a share of Sky News Australia, which reports with a right-leaning bias. source
The Jewish ChronicleCentre-rightIn 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 TimesCentre-rightThe 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 TelegraphRightTelegraph 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 NewsNot ratedNo ownership data found