The Green Party has proposed twinning Greater Manchester with a city in Palestine as part of its campaign for the upcoming mayoral election. The party unveiled this ambition alongside its manifesto ahead of the Greater Manchester mayoral contest scheduled for July 30, which will select a successor to Andy Burnham.
Geraldine Coggins, the Green Party’s mayoral candidate, criticized Israel’s actions in Gaza, describing them as genocide and illegal occupation of Palestinian land. In her manifesto, she emphasized Greater Manchester’s history of international solidarity, citing past efforts such as campaigns against apartheid and support for refugees. Coggins pledged to pursue twinning arrangements to foster lasting partnerships aimed at promoting peace, justice, and human dignity between communities in Greater Manchester and Palestine.
Coggins also expressed support for the Boycott, Divestment, and Sanctions (BDS) movement, which advocates refusing business with companies connected to Israel as a means to pressure changes in Israeli policy. However, current government guidance restricts local councils from boycotting Israeli firms or those trading with Israel. Legally, companies can challenge councils engaging in BDS under procurement regulations. Despite these limitations, Coggins stated her intention to engage the Greater Manchester Pension Fund in strategic discussions to encourage divestment from oil, gas, and companies involved in what she described as “illegal aggression, war crimes or genocide.”
The Green Party has faced significant internal controversy over allegations of anti-Semitism since Zack Polanski became its leader in September. At the party’s spring conference, a motion labeling Zionism—a movement affirming Jewish self-determination—as a “racist ideology” sparked considerable debate. The motion, backed by party activists, also called for the abolition of Israel and the creation of a single democratic state across all historic Palestine. Furthermore, it supported resistance against what activists described as Israeli occupation, including armed struggle.
Polanski did not publicly condemn the motion and was absent from the spring conference, attending an anti-racism march in London instead.
Public opinion on the Greater Manchester mayoral race remains divided. A recent Focaldata poll conducted during the Makerfield campaign showed the Labour Party leading with just over 33% support, followed by Reform at 30%, the Greens at approximately 12.5%, the Conservatives at 11%, and the Liberal Democrats at 7.6%.