The Board of Deputies of British Jews has voted by 118 votes to one to declare that the Green Party of England and Wales has become a racist party following the Greens’ adoption of a policy describing Zionism as racism.
The decision was taken at the Board’s October plenary meeting on Sunday 25 October 2026. It represents the Board of Deputies’ formal position, not a finding by a court or statutory regulator that the Green Party has broken discrimination law.
Board passes resolution by 118 votes to one
In an official statement, the Board said the resolution followed the Green Party’s conference decision earlier in October to adopt a motion treating Zionism as racism. The Board said the policy was profoundly concerning to many British Jews for whom ties to Israel and Jewish self-determination are significant elements of identity.
Board president Phil Rosenberg called on the Green Party leadership to reverse the policy and address concerns about antisemitism. The Board said it would treat the Greens as it has treated other parties it considers racist.
Consequences for political cooperation
The resolution also addresses other political parties entering formal electoral or coalition arrangements with the Greens. According to reporting on the motion, the Board said it would regard such arrangements as failing to take antisemitism sufficiently seriously unless the relevant Green leadership explicitly rejected the disputed policy and committed to its reversal.
This could affect discussions about existing and future local-government partnerships. It does not itself prohibit coalitions or change electoral law.
Green Party rejects the characterisation
The Green Party disputed the Board’s assessment. In comments reported by the Press Association, a party spokesperson said it does not discriminate against or exclude people for holding Zionist views and described the conference motion as political opposition to the displacement of Palestinians. The party rejected the Board’s characterisation of its policy and the party.
The controversy centres on sharply differing interpretations of Zionism and the implications of the Green Party’s motion. The Board argues that describing Zionism as racism stigmatises an important aspect of Jewish identity; the Greens say their policy expresses opposition to the treatment of Palestinians and does not exclude Jewish members or supporters who hold Zionist views.
What happens next?
The Board has said it will engage with Green representatives who publicly repudiate the policy and campaign for its reversal. Attention will now turn to the Green Party’s response and to how other parties approach cooperation with Green councillors and elected representatives.