Kieran Dams, a former Green Party councillor for the Waterloo Ward in Sefton, has resigned from the party following a contentious vote at the Green Party conference in Brighton that defined Zionism as racist and endorsed support for a single democratic Palestinian state encompassing present-day Israel. The motion passed by 1,022 votes to 813 after a divisive debate, sparking significant internal and external criticism.
Dams described his departure as a response to what he perceives as a shift in the party’s values away from inclusion, respect, and tolerance. He said witnessing Jewish members in tears during the debate and the party's enthusiastic reception of the motion led him to question his continued affiliation. "The Green Party I joined ceased to exist," he said, explaining that he now sits as an independent councillor after winning his seat in May’s council elections.
The controversy also extended to party leadership. Zack Polanski, the Green Party leader and former by-election candidate for Holborn and St Pancras, did not attend the vote, having left the conference to campaign. Following the vote and his electoral loss, Polanski declined to affirm Israel’s right to exist in a subsequent interview, a stance that intensified concerns among critics and members alike. Polanski later emphasized that no one should be excluded from the party due to their faith, background, or community affiliations.
Attempts to amend the motion to retain party support for a two-state solution or to clarify that membership in Zionist organizations would not be considered racist also failed. These outcomes deepened worries among Jewish members and allies. Vivien Lichtenstein, chair of Jewish Greens, indicated she might leave the party, and several Jewish organizations publicly condemned the motion. The episode has drawn attention beyond the Greens, with some Labour MPs referring the party to the Equality and Human Rights Commission and calls for investigations into alleged antisemitic incidents tied to the conference.
Within the party, prominent figures such as Ellie Chowns, the MP for North Herefordshire, and former leader Caroline Lucas spoke against the motion, warning of its divisive effects. Both expressed support for Palestinian rights but argued the motion was wrong and unnecessary, highlighting the internal dissent within Green ranks.
Dams underscored that his resignation was grounded in principle, urging others who share his concerns to act according to their conscience. "When the moment came to choose between loyalty to a party and loyalty to my conscience, I chose my conscience," he said, adding that the controversy has exposed deep divisions about the Green Party’s direction amid its growing political profile.
As the party navigates this challenge, it faces questions about balancing its expanding voter base and activism with maintaining cohesion among diverse members, particularly regarding sensitive issues linked to Israel and Palestine.