Labour has presented a report accusing the Green Party, led by Zack Polanski, of endorsing candidates with histories of hateful and dangerous beliefs. The Greens are under scrutiny for their vetting procedures after two local election candidates were recently arrested on allegations of posting antisemitic content online. Another candidate was suspended for alleged antisemitism linked to an account referencing Anne Frank, a victim of the Holocaust.
One candidate reportedly shared a derogatory term targeting Deputy PM David Lammy and Tory Shadow Foreign Secretary Priti Patel, while another candidate was accused of suggesting that Jews anticipate hate because they believe they deserve it. Labour’s report highlights 25 candidates who have been embroiled in controversy during the local election campaign.
Communities Secretary Steve Reed stated, “This is not an isolated incident. These are repeated instances of hatred from candidates handpicked by Zack Polanski and the Green Party to represent them in elections. Voters deserve councillors who respect them regardless of their backgrounds and who advocate for and safeguard all communities, which seems lacking in Polanski’s Green Party.”
Reed urged Green leader Polanski to expel the implicated candidates from the party. Saiqa Ali and Sabine Mairey, Green candidates in Lambeth, South London, were arrested last week for allegedly promoting racial hatred online. Labour’s dossier cites incendiary posts, such as one proclaiming “long live the resistance” alongside an image of an armed individual donning a Hamas headband.
Another candidate suggested that Donald Trump was “controlled by Jews.” The local Green Party stated that Ms. Ali had been suspended, emphasizing that the social media posts do not align with the party’s values. In response, Ali has been suspended pending further investigation.
When questioned about the arrests, Polanski condemned the comments, stating, “As a Jewish individual, those remarks appall me. It is crucial that the disciplinary process runs its course, and that is precisely what we are doing.”
Labour’s report points to additional alleged cases of antisemitism. The Greens retracted support for Newcastle candidate Tina Ion after it was revealed that she managed an account under the username “thereal.anne.frank,” where she reportedly made derogatory remarks about Zionists. Ion refuted accusations of antisemitism, clarifying that her criticisms were directed at political ideologies, not ethnicities or religions.
Newcastle’s Phil Brookes, another candidate, previously shared content hinting at antisemitic sentiments and posted an image of an Israeli flag transforming into a Nazi swastika flag. Labour’s report also mentions Rajeev Kumar, a candidate from Newham, who made controversial statements about Jews on social media.
Labour’s dossier also identifies Lewisham candidate Hau-Yu Tam, who used a racial slur in a Facebook post directed at David Lammy and Priti Patel. The Green Party assured that they are investigating instances that contradict their values and have suspended some candidates. They are working to enhance their vetting procedures to prevent unsuitable candidates from slipping through the selection process.