Campaign Against Antisemitism (CAA) has referred the Green Party to the Equality and Human Rights Commission (EHRC) in the wake of its passage of a motion declaring that “Zionism is racism”, which has occurred against a backdrop of concerns regarding the Green Party’s relationship with its Jewish members and the wider Jewish community.
CAA was the originating complainant instigating the EHRC’s landmark investigation into antisemitism within the Labour Party under Jeremy Corbyn, which was subsequently supported by Jewish groups within Labour. The EHRC found that the Labour Party had unlawfully victimised and discriminated against Jews. Following the EHRC’s concluding report, the Labour Party was issued with a mandatory action plan and forced to make reforms.
We have now concluded that the EHRC must investigate the Green Party on the basis that the Party has discriminated against Jewish members and/or associates, and continues to do so contrary to sections 101(2)(d) and/or 101(3)(d) of the Equality Act 2010.
Last week, prior to the passage of the “Zionism is racism” motion, we wrote to the Green Party requesting clarification on the impact and effect of the resolution. We received no response. We have now written again to the Green Party – on 7th October 2026 – asking them how, precisely, the motion is going to be implemented, and you can find the letter here.
You can read the referral letter to the EHRC, also of 7th October 2026, here.
In our correspondence with the EHRC, we drew the Commission’s attention to the fact that the motion “calls for the end of a Jewish homeland,” and that it “defines support for a Jewish homeland in any form as racist.” The motion defines Zionism as a “racist and settler-colonial…ideology”, which is not a definition most Jews or those sympathetic to Israel or who otherwise describe themselves as Zionists, would recognise or accept. It also effectively states that the State of Israel should not exist, which we consider is aimed to foreclose or render vulnerable to sanction “any form of sympathy or support for the state of Israel, or the idea of a Jewish homeland.”
Whereas the Labour Party did not adopt explicitly antisemitic policy, the Green Party has done so. This means that our referral of the Labour Party to the EHRC required that the EHRC investigate the details of antisemitic discrimination within Labour, but we anticipate that the investigation into the Green Party will have a sharper focus and be more narrowly tailored to the motion itself and its implementation. It will potentially be much more straightforward for the EHRC. The EHRC must now consider whether to open a statutory investigation under section 20 under the Equality Act 2006.
Additionally, we are asking any former or current Green Party member who is Jewish or Zionist to contact us so that we may consider whether we can assist them in bringing any actions against the Green Party. They are asked to contact [email protected] confidentially.
We can also confirm that we have reported the author of the motion, Lubna Speitan, to the Metropolitan Police Service on a separate matter. You can find more information and footage here, and the police reference number for the complaint is TV3-7833-26-15001-IR. It has also been reported that Ms Speitan sought to act as a character witness for a convicted terrorist and Al-Qaeda supporter who plotted to carry out a suicide bomb attack at Heathrow Airport – with some reporting suggesting that it was specifically a flight from Israel that was targeted.
The motion passed with 1,022 votes in favour, and 813 against. It was due to be debated at the Party’s Spring Conference earlier this year, but the debate was scuppered for procedural reasons.
Three of the four proposed amendments to the motion were rejected, including an amendment to protect Jewish members who attend self-declared ‘Zionist’ organisations like synagogues and Jewish community centres. This result tallied with a vote in a pre-conference workshop, audio of which CAA investigators obtained and shared exclusively with The Times.
CAA has appointed Derek Spitz KC of One Essex Court, and Beth Grossman of Doughty Street Chambers, of counsel, instructed by Asserson solicitors.
Gideon Falter, Chief Executive of Campaign Against Antisemitism, said: “On 7th October, we did not just remember, we acted. We have referred the Green Party to the EHRC, just as we referred Jeremy Corbyn’s Labour Party. The EHRC’s investigation into the Labour Party resulted in a landmark decision which made clear that political parties can be held accountable if they discriminate against Jews. We believe that is what is happening now in the Green Party.
“The Green Party’s decision to adopt its ‘Zionism is racism’ motion is racist and unlawful because it discriminates against Jews. Whether the Party believes itself to be above the law, or – by staggering incompetence – has not bothered to check the legal position, we will ensure that it faces the consequences of its actions.
“The Green Party has become and continues to be a party which discriminates against Jewish members and associates either in their capacity as Jews, or as persons who are, or are perceived to be, associated with Zionism and the State of Israel.
“We are aware of various Jewish and Zionist members of the Green Party who now find their continued presence in the Party untenable, as well as many who have left the Party, and we are asking anybody in such a position to contact us confidentially so that we may examine further action against the Green Party.
“We will not stand idly by as extremists hijack a political party and make antisemitism its openly stated policy.”
Campaign Against Antisemitism advocates for zero tolerance of antisemitism in public life. To that end, we monitor all political parties and strive to ensure that any cases of concern are properly addressed.
