Polanski says Government is ‘an active participant in the murdering of the Palestinians’, in conference speech

He received a lengthy standing ovation from activists – some of them wearing keffiyehs, shirts bearing the Palestinian flag and “Free Palestine” badges – when he declared: “We must do everything we can to stop the genocide.”

Polanski also linked his party’s opposition to the Government’s planned digital ID scheme with his opposition to the ban on Palestine Action, which he labelled a “draconian crackdown on the right to protest”.

The Green leader said that MPs from political parties that voted to proscribe the organisation should “hang their heads in shame”.

“Our liberties are non-negotiable, and we will do everything in our power to protect both our privacy and defend our juries”, he said, in a nod to the activist group of that name that organises demonstrations against the Palestine Action’s proscription.

Earlier, Polanski also described yesterday’s attack on the Heaton Park Hebrew Congregation synagogue as an “horrific terrorist attack”.

“As a Jewish man raised in North Manchester, I feel this deeply, and my heart is with our community more widely. I am literally the product of migration. It's why defending migrants matters so much to me,” he said.

The 42-year-old then told the audience of his family’s history of fleeing persecution  across eastern Europe and eventually coming to the UK, in what he described as a “common Jewish experience”.

Born David Paulden, Polanski shared that his family had changed their name “to sound more English” but that he “changed it back” because “we all know real pride comes when you no longer hide who you are”.

During his keynote address to party activists, Polanski also attacked Sir Keir Starmer over his rejection of a wealth tax on the top one per cent of earners.

He accused the Labour Party of dancing to Reform UK’s tune: “When Farage says ‘jump’, Labour might say, ‘how high’. But the Greens will never dance to the tune of a Trump loving, tax avoiding, science denying, NHS dismantling, corporate stooge”.

Earlier in the day, Polanski was challenged by the Today programme’s Justin Webb over the comments his now deputy leader made in the aftermath of October 7 and his role agitating against a Jewish university chaplain in Leeds.

Responding to Green leader’s speech, a Labour Party spokesperson said that it was “no surprise that Zack Polanski, a man who said he wanted to learn from Nigel Farage, has done so in his speech today – using his platform to sow division and grievance.

“Labour firmly chooses the path of national renewal. Only our Labour Government is driving forward the change working people voted for, to renew our country, keep Britain safe, and make sure people across all corners of the UK feel better off.”