The Green Party has lost nearly 20,000 members in less than six months as it fights a deepening anti-Semitism crisis.
asserted
it → lose → crisis
Zack Polanski's party has plummeted in the polls since passing the Zionism is Racism motion, which effectively calls for the abolition of Israel, at its annual conference.
asserted
which → plummet → conference
The leader of Cornwall Greens was yesterday the latest councillor to defect in protest at the motion, saying it had 'crossed a line' and that Mr Polanski has only 'doubled down' in supporting it since.
It comes after a small number of Green activists were able to pass the controversial policy at the conference earlier this month, to the dismay of many members.
Backed by Greens for Palestine, the motion effectively declares that those believing Jewish people have a right to an ancestral homeland in Israel are racist.
asserted
people → defect → Israel
Support for the Greens has fallen off a cliff-edge as talk of the motion has consumed the party, with 18,000 members quitting since May.
uncertain
members → fall → May
This has seen the number of paid-up members dropping by 8 per cent since the spring, with the party now facing a £110,000 annual loss in income for every 1 per cent of members who quit, according to a Sky report.
uncertain
who → see → report
Green councillors across the country have been defecting to other parties following the motion passing.
asserted
councillors → defect → motion
Zack Polanski reacts following the results in the Holborn and St Pancras by-election
Newquay mayor and leader of the Greens on Cornwall council Drew Creek yesterday jumped ship to Labour, saying the motion 'crossed a line'.
asserted
motion → react → line
In a statement, he wrote: 'I had hoped the Green Party would step back from it – but instead, Zack Polanski and the leadership has doubled down.
asserted
Polanski → write → it
I can't stand behind that, and I won't pretend otherwise.
asserted
I → stand → that
I didn't leave the Green Party; the party left me.'
asserted
party → leave → me
He follows at least ten other Green councillors who have defected on the motion being made party policy.
asserted
who → follow → motion
In Wealden district council in Sussex, a Green councillor announced she would defect to the Liberal Democrats.
asserted
she → announce → Democrats
Other Greens announced they would now be sitting as independents after leaving the party over the Zionism motion.
asserted
they → announce → motion
One former councillor told the Daily Mail that opposition parties in other places have been reticent to accept defections from the Greens.
asserted
parties → tell → Greens
Mr Polanski is joined by party MPs Hannah Spencer (left) and Sian Berry on stage during the Green Party Conference
Co-Deputy Leaders of the Green Party Mothin Ali and Rachel Millward at the party conference
They said one Labour figure had been 'very clear' they won't accept any Greens on a matter of 'principle'.
It comes as Mr Polanski's personal leadership ratings slumped to an all-time low this month, with 52 per cent of the public saying they had an unfavourable view of the Green leader.
asserted
they → join → leader
When questioned by the BBC, Mr Polanski insisted that polling showed 'the vast majority of Green voters from 2024' support the policy, but added he wanted to amend it 'at the first available opportunity'.
asserted
he → question → opportunity
The Green Party announced this week it would set up a 'working group' – which will include Mr Polanski and his deputies Mothin Ali and Rachel Millward – to discuss improving the party's democratic systems.
asserted
which → announce → systems
This came as the motion was passed by just 1,022 members, a fraction of the Greens' near 200,000-strong membership.
asserted
motion → come → membership
Adrian Ramsay, the Green MP for Waveney Valley, is expected to use an interview with the BBC tomorrow to criticise the changes made to the Greens under Mr Polanski's leadership.
asserted
Ramsay → expect → leadership
According to a report in The Times, Mr Ramsay, who ran against Mr Polanski for leader at the last internal elections, is leading a group of senior Greens calling for a 'conversation about the party's direction'.
uncertain
who → accord → direction
Labour vowed to end such pacts with Green councils supporting the controversial motion following the vote, and is expected to provide an update on its plans on Monday.
asserted
Labour → vow → Monday
In a sign of things to come, the Labour-Green alliance on Lewes District Council was ended this week through mutual agreement.
asserted
alliance → come → agreement
A Green Party spokesman said: 'We don't provide a running commentary on membership numbers.'
asserted
We → say → numbers
The Aporia
