Today’s by-election is a test for Burnham and Polanskipublished at 10:03 p.m. BST on October 8
Chris Mason
Political editor
This looks like a big and rather crucial by-election for several reasons.
Firstly, this is only happening because of domestic politics in recent years – and the resignation of Keir Starmer as Prime Minister. Shortly after leaving Downing Street, he decided to leave Parliament too – leaving his seat here in Holborn and St Pancras, north London.
This is also the first by-election of Andy Burnham’s tenure as Prime Minister. It’s been a safe Labor seat for a long, long time, but the Green Party of England and Wales has made waves since Zack Polanski became leader – and the party performed well in London’s local elections in May.
So it’s a test for Burnham and it’s a test for Polanski, who is the Green candidate in this race.
Image source, ReutersAnd this is where things get a little heated, given the huge feud of the last few days.
The Green Party is currently devouring itself over a motion passed at its party conference just days ago which led to Polanski being banned from Israel and his party is facing criticism not only from the Jewish Leadership Council and the Board of Deputies of British Jews, but also from sister Green parties in Europe.
Polanski, who is Jewish himself, did not vote on the motion which asserts that Zionism is a form of racism and calls for a single Palestinian state, without Israel.
The motion was adopted. Polanski’s team said he was campaigning here in Holborn and St Pancras at the time.
He has said no to interviews with journalists in recent days – requests from the BBC have been refused.
When my colleague Emilia Belli found him in the countryside earlier today, she asked him polite but persistent questions, but he didn’t answer them.
Meanwhile, the Prime Minister intervened, arguing that the motion amounted to “a completely wrong decision, a terrible judgment on the part of the Green Party of England and Wales – in effect ruling out a two-state solution between Israel and Palestine, and for that reason it should not be supported one way or the other.” »
Image source, ReutersThe Prime Minister called the motion a “terrible judgment” on the part of the Greens.
In response to this, the Green Party of England and Wales released this statement:
“This is a sensitive and complex issue. It has rightly sparked much discussion and must be taken in the context of Israel’s behavior. Israel has been responsible for genocide, ethnic cleansing and the murder of children, and we have had a political establishment that has not only turned a blind eye, but has been supportive.
Zack is unequivocally committed that no Jewish person will be excluded or deprived of the opportunity to express themselves because they are a member of a synagogue or community organization that supports Zionism. »
One party member told me that “Zack has created a monster that he can’t or won’t control.” Many party attendees are furious.
We hope to be able to ask Polanski a few questions after the vote – it will be very interesting to see how he answers them and how, or even if, he can move the party out of its greatest leadership position so far.
When it comes to the by-elections, the Greens seem significantly less optimistic about the outcome than Labor.
Gn world
