Former Green Party leader Caroline Lucas has stated that the party's current leader, Zack Polanski, failed to demonstrate sufficient leadership regarding a motion passed by members that declared Zionism a form of racism. The motion, which defined Zionism as an ideology supporting an ethnonationalist Jewish state, was described by Lucas as "dangerous and divisive."

Lucas's remarks come during the by-election campaign in Holborn and St Pancras, where Polanski is standing as the Green Party candidate. The controversy surrounding the motion has overshadowed the final days of his campaign. The motion, passed at the Green Party's annual conference in Brighton, also advocated for a single democratic Palestinian state across all of historic Palestine, including modern-day Israel. Under party rules, such motions become official policy but are not automatically included in the general election manifesto.

Lucas, who voted against the motion, told the BBC's Newsnight that Polanski, as the party leader, should have been present at the debate and should have cast a vote. She expressed her hope that Polanski would now speak out about the events, stating, "I want him to show the leadership that was frankly missing on Sunday." She added that the party's leadership, which did not attend the debate, should have been more critical of the motion, which she found "flawed from top to bottom."

Polanski himself did not vote on the motion. He left the party conference early to focus on campaigning in the by-election. Since the motion's passage on Sunday, he has declined media interviews and did not answer questions from a BBC reporter about the motion earlier on Thursday. In a statement released on Monday, Polanski did not explicitly state his support or opposition to the motion but aimed to reassure Jewish members that they would not be made unwelcome due to their background or faith.

The motion has exposed divisions within the Green Party, particularly between its larger membership base under Polanski's leadership and the MPs elected in the last general election. Four out of the five Green MPs opposed the motion, and the party's co-deputy leaders were divided on their stance. The vote also led to the resignation of the Green deputy leader in Wales and drew condemnation from the European Green Party.

A Green Party source responded to Lucas's comments by emphasizing the party's unique approach, stating, "We do things differently - unlike Labour who use anonymous sources and resort to factionalism." The source suggested that disagreements can occur in the "heat of a campaign" when individuals are passionate.

The outcome of the Holborn and St Pancras by-election, where the Greens are attempting to overcome a significant Labour majority, remains to be seen. The controversy surrounding the Zionism motion has added a layer of complexity to the race. Questions persist about how the party will navigate these internal divisions and whether Polanski will address the matter more directly in the coming days.

Lucas's comments suggest a waiting game regarding Polanski's future leadership response. "I think the jury is out about whether he will do that - but I very much hope he will," she remarked, indicating that his actions in the immediate aftermath will be closely watched.