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The Green Party of England and Wales recently endorsed a policy calling for the establishment of “a single democratic Palestinian state in all of historic Palestine,” which encompasses the territory of present-day Israel. This decision, ratified last month by party members, sparked significant controversy. It drew criticism not only from various Jewish organizations but also from prominent Green Party figures, including several Members of Parliament such as Ramsay.
Israel’s foreign ministry responded to the wider controversy by announcing a ban on Green Party leader Polanski, who is Jewish, preventing him from entering the country. Meanwhile, the Equality and Human Rights Commission reached out to the Green Party for further details on the motion, following concerns raised by numerous Labour and Liberal Democrat MPs and members of the Jewish community. In response to the situation, Labour declared it would terminate power-sharing arrangements with the Greens on local councils unless Green councillors publicly rejected the contentious policy.
In interviews following the backlash, Ramsay, MP for Waveney Valley and a party member since 1998, expressed his discomfort with the policy. When asked about Zionism, he responded, “no, it’s not” racist, although he acknowledged the dire situation in Gaza as “appalling,” aligning with Polanski’s views on that matter. Unlike Polanski, Ramsay affirmed his belief that Israel has a right to exist. He also indicated an opportunity to reconsider the party’s stance ahead of the Green Party’s spring conference next year, emphasizing the importance of how both Polanski and the party handle the current situation.
Ramsay voiced his concerns about the direction the party might take, warning against an inward-looking and divisive approach driven by hard-left factions aiming to influence party dynamics. Instead, he urged a return to the Green Party’s foundational goals and values, stressing the need for consensus-building and greater engagement with grassroots members. He emphasized that the party must be outward-facing to secure the public support necessary for achieving vital environmental reforms to protect society’s future. Having served as Green co-leader from 2021 to 2025 alongside Carla Denyer, Ramsay lost a leadership contest in 2025 to Polanski, who has expressed a desire to amend the policy motion but stands firm on the claim that “the displacement and genocide of the Palestinian people is clearly underpinned by a racist ideology.” Israel denies accusations that its actions in Gaza amount to genocide. According to Green Party rules, member-supported motions become official policy but do not necessarily appear in the party’s manifesto for the next general election
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