Polanski vows to stay as Green leader as he faces criticism after by-election defeat

Zack Polanski has vowed to stay on as Green Party leader after his by-election defeat, as he faced pressure from within his own party to resign.

The leader of the Jewish Greens, Vivien Lichtenstein, said on Friday he should resign, adding it was a "big mistake" for him to have dodged a debate about a party conference motion that declared Zionism a form of racism.

Lichtenstein's comments come after two former Green leaders accused Polanski of failing to show leadership over the Zionism row.

Polanski, who came second to Labour overnight in the Holborn and St Pancras by-election, told BBC Breakfast he would "absolutely" stay on as leader and he "of course" had not questioned that.

The Greens had hoped to take the seat, previously held by former Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer, after a by-election success earlier this year .

Polanski lost out in Thursday's contest in London to Labour candidate Sagal Abdi-Wali - who secured 45% of the vote to his 33% - but the Green vote share was up by 22 percentage points on the 2024 general election.

Following the by-election, Lichtenstein was asked whether it would be right for Polanski to continue as leader of the party. She told Times Radio: "No, I think he should resign."

Earlier in the week, Lichtenstein, who has been a member of the Green Party for nearly three decades, told Radio 4's Today programme it was "quite possible" she would leave the party after the Zionism row.