Green Party Faces Potential Conference Venue Ban Over Zionism Motion

The Green Party faces a potential ban from using the Brighton Centre for future conferences after passing a motion that Brighton & Hove City Council has deemed incompatible with its inclusion commitments. The motion, which addressed Zionism, has drawn criticism from council leader Bella Sankey.

Sankey accused the Green Party's leadership of a "dereliction of duty," stating that the Brighton Centre, owned by the city, should not be a venue where individuals feel excluded based on their religion or beliefs. Zionism is defined as the belief in the right to a Jewish homeland.

Green Party sources have contested Sankey's interpretation of the motion. Zack Polanski, a Jewish member of the party, emphasized the distinction between antisemitism and criticism of the Israeli state. He asserted that blurring these lines is not only incorrect but antisemitic, ultimately endangering Jewish people. Polanski added that the party's role is to protect the rights of both Palestinians and the UK's Jewish communities.

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The Brighton Centre has hosted autumn conferences for both the Green Party and the Liberal Democrats this year, and has also hosted the Labour Party's annual gatherings in previous years. In 2017, concerns over antisemitic views being aired led to a threat from the then-leader of Brighton & Hove City Council, Warren Morgan, to ban the Labour Party from using the venue.

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