By SCM International I Thursday, Oct. 15, 2026
LONDON — British Prime Minister Andy Burnham on Wednesday firmly ruled out any future parliamentary coalition with the Green Party following its adoption of a controversial motion declaring Zionism a form of racism and advocating for a single, democratic Palestinian state.
Addressing the House of Commons during a heated Prime Minister’s Questions, Burnham sharply condemned the Green Party’s newly ratified policy platform, calling it “fundamentally antisemitic” and declaring that no power-sharing arrangement or formal alliance could exist between his government and the Greens while the resolution remains official policy.
”This government stands unequivocally against antisemitism in all its forms,” Burnham told lawmakers.
“By framing Zionism—the movement for the self-determination and statehood for the Jewish people—as inherently racist, the Green Party has crossed a line. As long as this remains their stance, any partnership is completely off the table.”
The political rift highlights growing tensions within British politics over foreign policy and domestic civil liberties surrounding the ongoing Israel-Palestine conflict.
Green Party leader Zack Polanski, who is Jewish, forcefully rejected the Prime Minister’s characterization during a tense exchange on the Parliament floor. Polanski accused Burnham of politically motivated rhetoric and misrepresenting legitimate critique of Israeli government policy.
”You are conflating principled criticism of Israel with antisemitism,” Polanski fired back. Addressing the Prime Minister directly, he added: “You’re a prime minister who arms a genocide and locks pensioners up for opposing it.”
Polanski’s sharp rebuke references two major points of political friction: Britain’s ongoing export of military equipment and arms licenses, and the government’s crackdown on domestic climate and anti-war demonstrators, several of whom have faced arrest and prosecution under recent public order laws.
The clash underscores a widening divide on the British political left and center-left regarding foreign policy, human rights, and political alliances. While traditional political consensus in Westminster has supported a negotiated two-state solution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, progressive factions and third parties like the Greens have increasingly pushed for radical policy shifts—including supporting a single binational state with equal rights for Israelis and Palestinians.
Under Polanski’s leadership, the Green Party has expanded its platform beyond environmental policy to adopt robust, explicit positions on international human rights and anti-imperialism. The party’s controversial motion—defining Zionism as a form of racism—passed at its recent national conference, reflecting a growing sentiment among grass-roots activists calling for an immediate end to British arms sales and stronger diplomatic sanctions.
The immediate refusal of a coalition comes amidst heightened media speculation regarding potential post-election arithmetic. With public polling reflecting shifting voter alignments, minor parties—such as the Greens—had been increasingly viewed as potential kingmakers in a hung parliament.
Burnham’s proactive refusal to work with the Greens establishes a clear political line, signaling an intent to reassure moderate voters and Jewish community groups while marginalizing radical positions within Parliament.
