Zack Polanski addresses antisemitism concern over Newcastle Green Party election candidates

Green Party leader Zack Polanski visited Newcastle on Monday to address concerns over some local election candidates. The party is expected to make significant gains from Labour in the May 7 elections. Polanski said he has confidence in '99%' of his candidates despite accusations of antisemitic comments. Some candidates, including Philip Brookes, have faced scrutiny over social media posts. Brookes' Facebook account posted comments about the war in Gaza and branded Israel 'a bunch of Polish, Russian, Hungarian terrorists'. Polanski condemned antisemitism, stating it is 'personal' for him as a Jewish leader. He emphasized the importance of distinguishing between genuine antisemitism and legitimate criticism of the Israeli government. The Green Party has grown rapidly, quadrupling in the polls with 226,000 members. Polanski noted that with 4,500 candidates, a 'handful' of cases under scrutiny is not a 'big scandal'. The party will examine these cases on a 'bespoke basis' to ensure candidates align with Green Party values.